Englewood Couple Moves to Netanya in Their Hundreds
Sandy and Rosalie Goldstein left New Jersey to live in Israel after a delay of six decades.
By Pablo Serrano ·
NETANYA, Israel: Sanford Goldstein first considered moving to Israel in 1961, when he was 40 years old. An aliyah representative told him he was too old to go. He waited 65 years to try again. Three and a half years ago, at age 102, he and his wife Rosalie, then 97, made the move.
The couple left their home of 15 years in Englewood, New Jersey, to join their daughter, Risa Shapiro. Shapiro is a social worker and an aliyah consultant at Olim Advisors. The family previously lived for most of its history in Brooklyn. The Goldsteins met at a shul dance.
Sandy Goldstein turned 105 in August. Rosalie Goldstein turned 100 last January. In September, they marked 79 years of marriage. Rosalie Goldstein said the couple has been blessed with their years together.
The family now lives in the Ir Yamim neighborhood of Netanya. The move brought them closer to five grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Sandy Goldstein describes the reception the couple received on their arrival day. He said dozens of strangers welcomed them. A sukkah party at the shul this year drew 300 people.
The Goldsteins spent the 1970s as advocates for Soviet Jewry. After the couple recovered from COVID, they decided to act on the long-delayed plan. Sandy Goldstein became the oldest person to immigrate to Israel. He passed the record held by Stella Rockoff, who left New Jersey for Israel in 2022 at age 101.
Sandy Goldstein, a former CPA, gives credit for his age to a daily portion of yoghurt and blueberries. His wife is described by her daughter as "the best Mom on the planet." He advises people who want to move to Israel to visit first, then stay as long as they can. "Don't wait until the last minute," he said.
This year, Sandy Goldstein received the first aliyah on Simchat Torah night at his shul. The couple shares pizza and ice cream with great-grandchildren. Their son, Dr. Glenn Goldstein, practices rehabilitation back pain medicine in Manhattan and has expressed interest in moving to Israel as well.
Source: Jewish Link of NJ · original report published
