‘Palace Lehavim’ an ideal solution for the third age is celebrating its founding three years ago. It invites the retirees to join the success story of hundreds of residents in one of the most prestigious communities in Israel.
On the occasion of the special feature in Baranze magazine, Vision and Fulfillment in the Negev, three long time residents of the place were interviewed, who whole heartedly agree that the decision to move to the assisted living community ‘Palace Lehavim’ was the best choice they’ve made in their lives.
Recently, ‘Palace Medical’ centers were opened, providing high quality medical services at a 5 star level. Congratulations, good health, and a pleasant retirement until 120. Ofer Eli’az Photography: Iris Tohar A wealth of research both in Israel and globally focusing on the elderly and offering practical suggestions for an active and fulfilling old age have established that with the extension of human life expectancy, the number of elderly people in society is steadily growing.
The increase in life expectancy is one of the great revolutions in human life, during which a new period of life is formed before old age.To fulfill these goals, namely allowing a person to continue developing, realizing oneself, renewing and leading active and meaningful lives, the retirement community ‘Palace Lehavim’ was established. Hundreds of residents have come from all over the country, most of them visionary residents of the Negev, who decided to realize their vision and fulfill their dream, each person and his story, his background, profession, and aspirations.
Three years have passed since ‘Palace Lehavim’ was officially opened in May 2020, and it continues to improve with time, both in terms of its residents, its employees, and the leisure program conducted within it. The residents live in an active community, they are part of a large, cohesive, and supportive community that maintains a good and welcoming lifestyle routine. The two managers, Sela HaCarmuni Barda and Efrat Gutman, who develop the leisure and sports programs, are well aware of the various research findings and with the spirit of these insights, they provide a rich events calendar tailored for a happy old age on one page: gymnastics, swimming, music, art, dances, nature hikes, fitness tours, trips to cultural events, and more.
The blanket falls short of detailing the variety of events enjoyed by ‘Palace Lehavim’ residents to this day, three years after its opening.
If that’s not enough, two residents, Prof. Tzipi Rubin and Sarah Tzuar, took it upon themselves to publish the residents’ newspaper ‘Palaceton’. Also, the singing group under the guidance of Ido Marko, maintains its activity and holds intensive rehearsals for upcoming performances scheduled on Jewish holidays and festive occasions.
And no less important, recently, the nursing centers of ‘Palace Medical Lehavim’ were opened, high quality 5-star centers, led by a medical team managed by Prof. Adonski, a specialist in geriatrics in general and rehabilitation in particular. The team includes experienced nursing staff and a highly professional team with a high level of service awareness and availability 24 hours a day. There is also a multidisciplinary para medical team of professionals in their fields, assisting in achieving optimal treatment and recovery results, as well as a team of physiotherapists specialized in post-surgical and orthopedic treatments.
‘Palace Lehavim’ An active and meaningful retirement awaits you here!”
Joseph Mertzkov
professor Joseph Mertzkov, 84 years old, born in Argentina, married to Ayala, who is an emotional intelligence lecturer, has been residing in Palace Lehavim for two years. The couple has 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and a great grandchild.
What are the values that guided you, which served as an anchor on your path to self realization?
“Judaism, the Bible, Talmud, Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), all within the framework of an internal institute for Jewish studies, and mainly, studies in engineering.
What is your professional vision?
“The head of the Department of Chemical Engineering and one of the founders of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology at Ben-Gurion University in the Negev.”
Which person has particularly influenced your internal drive to formulate your vision and achieve it?
“Professor Yoshida from Japan, from whom I acquired the academic tools to participate in establishing the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology. I simply brought the professional vision, doctoral studies, from Japan and fulfilled it here in Be’er Sheva, the capital of the Negev, in practice.
What led you to realize your vision specifically here in Be’er Sheva, and in the Negev in general?
“In Argentina, we were educated on the shoulders of Zionism. I already held a doctorate in chemical engineering. I established a connection with Professor Chaim Weizmann, who accepted me at Ben-Gurion University in 1972. In the late 1980s, I was elected head of the Department ofChemical Engineering, and I initiated a specialization in biochemical engineering.”
How complex or challenging was the journey toward realizing your vision?
“I don’t like words like ‘bursting’ vision. The Negev was indeed the realization of Zionism for its sake, according to Herzl’s vision, the Balfour Declaration, and the first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion. I am a modest person and did the best I could.”
Who assisted you on the path to realizing your vision, and do you think its realization requires team work?
“All the people in the Faculty of Engineering at Ben-Gurion University. I always received help inso many areas. I was already a professor abroad, and after 4 years, I also received a degree from Ben-Gurion University. After 5 years, I became a professor on the regular track. When I retired in 2006, I was granted the title of Professor Emeritus (with international recognition) and became a research mentor.”
Regarding the idea that formulating a vision and walking in its direction often needs to be the ‘lonely runner on the track,’ what do you think about it?
“It’s impossible to do anything alone; all the fun is working in collaboration with others. In my eyes, the big thing is working with the students, research students who serve as the next generation. I have students from the United States, Australia, and China who returned to their countries to spread the message, and of course, from Israel.”
Do you think Israeli society is open to changes and initiatives?
“Certainly, society is open. My experience is that in many places, the image of the State of Israel and its status are so prestigious that I sometimes feel they exaggerate in praising us. I am very proud of our research, especially in Spain and South America, where Israel is an example, a model of high academic research status. It fills me with pride and great honor, to the point where I sometimes felt embarrassed.”
What do you wish for the Negev community in the context of vision and realization, looking ahead to the next decade?
“That all the plans regarding the scientific and technological area at the Faculty of Engineering at Ben-Gurion University will be implemented and bear the fruit we hope for.”
How is life at Palace Lehavim?
“I do a lot of things here, mainly busy writing my memoirs. I almost don’t engage in professional engineering research anymore, I left it all behind, and I mostly write.”
“I participate in groups for creative writing, bridge, gymnastics, and Latin dances (!).”
“We are fortunate that our daughter lives in Lehavim, and our son and daughter in law live in Metar. They visits a lot, so the realization of the vision in the Negev is the heritage of the entire family.”
Yehudit Marom
At the age of 74, Yehudit Marom, a widow, arrived in Palace Lehavim from Omer two years ago.
“My late husband, Lior Marom, a resident of Mitzpe Ramon, served in the IDF, and at the age of 52, he passed away suddenly from a heart attack while driving to visit me,” she recalls with a heavy heart. “Palace Lehavim deserves a great deal of credit for the assistance and support I received when the tragedy happened.”
Today, Yehudit is left with 2 daughters and 7 grandchildren.
“I came from the special education field, working as an integrated teacher for children with learning disabilities, especially focusing on the Bedouin community in the past two years.”
Why specifically in the Negev?
“I didn’t have a choice. I arrived in Be’er Sheva in 1949, the city where I grew up, we lived in Be’er Sheva and Omer.”
What values have guided you?
“Stand up and walk the land with a cane and map. I raised my children to love the land, just as I was raised.”
Who helped you on your way to realizing your vision, and do you believe that its realization requires teamwork?
“The Bnei Akiva movement instilled in me proper values and the right path (though I’m not religious) for the love of others. I volunteer around the clock, fulfilling my vision in the Negev, like someone who volunteers and contributes more than just giving.”
What motivated you to realize the vision specifically here in Be’er Sheva, especially in Palace Lehavim?
“Here in Palace Lehavim, I am a member of the beautiful Yefe Nof neighborhood council in Be’er Sheva. I volunteer in ‘Ruach Daromit,’ an association for cancer patients receiving alternative treatments.”
“We opened a second hand store here, and all the money is donated to the Eden Association, which operates for at-risk girls in the Kibbutzim of Karme Yosef and Dorot.” “I also teach embroidery.”
What is your professional vision?
“Promoting environmental quality in schools in Rahat. We are looking for the right way to reach the students’ parents, to achieve integration and peace within the Bedouin society and with theJewish society. We started the project just a few weeks ago, and it is making a real impact.”
“My vision is to accept people as they are. Additionally, I am in contact with the ‘Na’amat’ association and the ‘Ima Le’Ima’ association, which we established inPalace, in collaboration with the associations. For example, we made 40 dolls for children and mothers in the Giv Shalom neighborhood. For Passover, we prepared 50 food baskets for those in need.”
“Yitzhun and Yogev, all in collaboration with ‘Palace Lehavim,’ a supported housing community.”
How are life and activities in Palace Lehavim?
“Life is good. Full of activities. I participate in many clubs: sports, yoga, Pilates, bone building, memory, handicrafts like bead embroidery, practical art, and dancing with the choir of the house.”
“Indeed, the extensive activity in Palace Lehavim is an impressive outcome of an impressive teamwork led by CEO Tal Amit, who has been serving in his role for a year before the village was established. He expressed at the beginning of his journey”
“In my meetings with the residents, I understood that the community we are about to establish will be different from what is customary in other supported villages in various places in the country because the residents in Palace Lehavim are more modest and accustomed to living in a communal atmosphere. I encourage community through activities in various clubs, establishing committees that contribute to the proper management of the house, and of course through the trips and tours that unite the community.”
“I feel the fulfillment of our vision: we have created in Lehavim a happy, united, supportive, and strengthening community, a warm and vibrant community that values mutual respect, modesty and great respect for the unique aspirations of each resident
