– Oldest Jew in the United States
– Longest living Jew in America.
Pearl Louise Berg, World’s Ninth Oldest Person, Passes Away at 114
Pearl Louise Berg (née Synenberg), known as the ninth oldest person in the world and the third oldest person in the United States, sadly passed away in Los Angeles last week at the remarkable age of 114, according to a report by The Jewish News on Monday.
Born on October 1, 1909, in Evansville, Indiana, Pearl was the daughter of American Jewish parents with Eastern European roots. Interestingly, Pearl believed her birthday was on Valentine’s Day, a misconception she only discovered and corrected at the age of 108. However, by that time, the habit of celebrating her birthday in February had become firmly established.
Initially raised in Pittsburgh, Pearl’s family relocated to Los Angeles when she was 19 due to the Great Depression impacting her father’s used car business. Her parents had previously worked as professional photographers and managed a silent movie theater.
It was in Los Angeles that Pearl met her future husband, Mark Berg, a Jewish immigrant from Ukraine. The couple remained rooted in the city for nearly a century, with Pearl being a devoted member of Temple Israel of Hollywood for over 85 years.
A Friend of Israel Since the Beginning
Pearl’s commitment to the Zionist cause during the early days of the State of Israel was highlighted by her son, Robert, in an interview with the Jewish Journal in 2022. He shared a story of how Pearl’s husband and his brother arranged for a shipment of “agricultural equipment” to Israel via Mexico in 1947. However, the boxes were actually filled with airplane engines destined for the Israeli air force. Robert explained that his parents never spoke about this covert operation.
In a blog post celebrating Pearl’s 114th birthday in 2023, Rabbi John L. Rosove of Temple Israel recounted an interaction he had with Pearl four years earlier, when she turned 110. He had added the traditional Jewish birthday wish, “to 120!” to which Pearl jokingly responded, “Please God, NO!”
Pearl is survived by her two sons, Robert Joel Berg and Dr. Anal Paul Berg, as well as her grandchild, Belinda Berg.
Although the cause of Pearl Louise Berg’s passing has not been disclosed, her remarkable longevity and dedication to her community and causes will be remembered by all who knew her. She leaves behind a lasting legacy and an inspiration for generations to come.
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1. World’s oldest Jew dies at in US
2. World’s oldest Jew dies in US.
