Moving: Holocaust survivor surprises his granddaughter on Mount Herzl

(A7)Yaakov Meir Dimenstein, a Holocaust survivor who lives in Switzerland, came to Israel specifically to watch his granddaughter, Rina, who serves in the Home Front Command and who will be a flag bearer in the traditional torch lighting ceremony that will take place next week on Independence Day.

On Monday, on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Rina’s family, together with grandfather Yaakov, surprised her by arriving at the rehearsals for the ceremony, which were held on Mount Herzl. At the end of the rehearsals, Yaakov joined the flag bearers in the singing of Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah”.

Yaakov, who was born in Belgium and fled the Nazi regime to a refugee camp in South Africa, said, “I cannot explain in words the meaning of the visit to the rehearsals for the torch lighting ceremony, in which my granddaughter will take part. Only about 78 years ago, the Jewish people were persecuted and their status was at the lowest point in history. Today, the State of Israel is a beacon and a source of great Jewish pride and proves that history will not repeat itself thanks to the power of the IDF.”

His granddaughter, Rina, said, “As the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, I am proud and happy to wear the IDF uniform – thus fulfilling the dreams of our forefathers. I strive to contribute to the country as much as I can, and being an IDF officer is one step in commemorating all those who are no longer with us. We must cherish and give gratitude every day for the right to live in the land of Israel.”