By Dorothea Shefer-Vanson
MEVASSERET ZION, Israel — The invitation to participate in celebrating the 100th birthday of my second cousin, Meir “Frank” Loewenberg arrived by email, symbolizing just one of the many changes that have influenced our lives in the last century.
Both our families originated in Hamburg, Germany, and while Frank was born and spent the first few years of his life there, I and my sisters were born and brought up in London. Our late father, Hamburg-born-and-raised Manfred Vanson would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2018 had he lived a few years longer.
Although, in order to escape Nazi Germany, the physical location of our two families (connected on the distaff side, i.e., via two grandmothers who were sisters née Oettinger) differed subsequently, the Loewenbergs residing in the USA and we in the UK, the two branches kept in touch.
Today, after retirement and migration, most of the members of the two families now live in Israel.
The luncheon given to mark Frank’s very special birthday was held in Jerusalem’s Shalva National Center, a custom-built contemporary building providing a wide range of services designed to aid and improve the lives of disabled children.
The gathering of some 50 distant relatives who have not seen one another for many years, if at all, was both festive and dignified. The ‘birthday boy’ himself sat at one of the tables and appeared to recognize those of us who came to congratulate him.
Frank’s three adult children (grandparents themselves) who live in Israel were stationed at the entrance, ready to identify us and introduce themselves, so that we were able to find our bearings in the crowd. Perhaps we should have had labels with our names to help us clarify who we were, but most people readily introduced themselves, and many exclamations of recognition could be heard.
As for Frank himself, he is remarkable in many ways. First of all, he is physically much younger than 100, can stand and walk unaided (though he uses a walking-stick), swims several times a week and looks virtually just as he did 50 years ago. Mentally, he is phenomenal, as alert as ever, continuing to attend synagogue twice-daily, study the biblical texts, write and publish articles on learned subjects, maintain and write an annual record running into many pages of the activities of all his numerous offspring, which he sends out by email to dozens of relatives.
In a brief speech he admitted that he did not know what ‘the secret of longevity’ was despite having been asked many times, but obviously his mental capacity and maintenance of physical activity have contributed. Mainly, I would say, it is his indomitable spirit and open-mindedness that has kept him alert and active in so many spheres for so long.
One of his sons told us that after being computer savvy for many years, two years ago Frank became aware of ChatGPT and asked to be helped to become familiar with it, so that it is now integrated into his compendium of abilities. We were also informed that the celebration we attended was only one of several to be held during the week, and that the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren would be participating in other activities, to be held in even larger venues. I only hope that, however joyful, the various festivities will not take too much of a toll on Frank and that his energy and spirit will continue to sustain him and inspire us for many years to come.
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Dorothea Shefer-Vanson is an author and freelance writer based in the Jerusalem suburb of Mevasseret Zion, Israel.