She fled the Israeli army as a young woman. Now in her 90s, she is running again
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The story of Jeanneette Efrati is an inspiring one. Born in the early 1920s in Jerusalem, Efrati served in the Haganah, the pre-state Jewish underground militia, at the age of 17. She was determined to fight for the establishment of an independent Jewish state, but the odds seemed insurmountable.
Still, Efrati persevered and continued to serve until the War of Independence broke out in 1948. When her army unit was sent on what seemed like a suicide mission, Efrati made the difficult decision to flee with her three teenage children.
After the war, Efrati was determined to not give up on her dream of an independent Jewish state, and so she started running again. At the age of 90, Efrati has run the Jerusalem Marathon twice, and she has become an inspiring symbol of courage and determination to future generations.
Though physical limitations have made running increasingly difficult, Efrati still runs a few miles each week in her home city of Jerusalem, a symbol of her unwavering commitment to Israel and a testament to her strength and resilience.