A 90-year-old immigrant from Eastern Ukraine, survived the Holocaust and fighting in the ATU zone, fulfilled his dream - to make a prayer near the Western Wall, in the most sacred place for the Jewish people.
Abraham Takoch was born in Donetsk and never in his life was in Jerusalem. He fulfilled his dream thanks to the Friendship Fund and the Wailing Wall Heritage Foundation.
"I have dreamed of this all my life, and here I am," Takoch said with a smile. - I am very glad that I had the opportunity to appear in this holy place and say a prayer. I used to see the Western Wall only on TV, and now I can touch it. "
Abraham lives in Rishon-le-Zion, immigrated to Israel with the help of the Friendship Fund in 2014, along with his daughters and grandchildren against the backdrop of unceasing military action in the Donetsk region.
In order to celebrate his father's birthday, his granddaughter turned to the call center of the Friendship Fund, knowing that his cherished dream was to visit the Western Wall. Because of his father's advanced age, this mission seemed impossible. However, the Friendship Foundation provided transportation and a wheelchair, organized a nearby parking lot.
In 1941 Takoch was 14 years old. When the Nazis occupied his hometown, the family fled. After long wanderings they returned to Donetsk. Abraham was drafted into the Soviet Army. There he learned to drive trucks, which became his profession for life.
Founder and President of the Friendship Foundation, Rabbi Yehiel Ekshtein stressed that the Foundation helps tens of thousands of elderly people who survived the Holocaust and other elderly people in distress because they deserve the best. The Fund's call center accepts hundreds of requests per day for help, and we are trying to help. The call of Abraham's daughter was unique, because he gave us a rare opportunity to fulfill the dream of the whole life of an elderly person who survived the Holocaust. "