Meet Beni Kaspi

I chose to tell you about my grandfather, my father’s father –

Beniamin Kaspi

My grandfather was born in 21/02/1931 in Romania, in a small town called Tulcea.

He was an only son to Emanuel and Rebecca Casapeanu.

In 1939 he immigrated to Israel on a ship called “Tiger Hill” at the age of 8 with his mother and settled in Tel Aviv.

(his father had arrived to Israel a few months earlier).

My grandfather spent most of his childhood without a father because he was captured by the Germans while fighting with the British Army.

That’s why the financial burden was entirely on his mother.

His mother did everything to make him feel like an equal child.

He had violin lessons and he went to study at Gymnasia Herzliya so he could get a good education.

After the declaration of Isreal, studies were stoped for anyone who was born in 1931, and they joined immediately to the army.

Over the years, my grandfather served in several positions, underwent an officers’ course with honors, And finally he finished his service in “Givati“.

In 30/03/1951 My grandparents got married.

They met back in school and used to look at each other when they played ball games.

(my Grandma played basketball, And my Grandpa played football).

After being released from the army, he worked as a soccer goalkeeper.

over the years He played for several different teams and even played in several international games.

unfortunately, he injured his knee during a game and that’s what brought the end of his career as a professional goalkeeper.

After the injury, he was accepted to work at El-Al as a bus driver, but they had one condition – that he has to participate in the Workplace League as a goalkeeper.

After 3 years as a bus driver he heard a flight attendant’s course had been opened and decided to sign up.

He worked as an flight attendant for 25 years.

He was the first to start the flight attendant’s “tradition” in our family.

My father and mother met while working as flight attendant’s, And also my cousin and I worked –

3 generations of flight attendant’s in EL-AL.

My grandfather died of cardiac arrest in 03/30/2001 While playing tennis in the urban center.

I was in first grade, so I don’t have a lot of memories from him.

But his presence lives on in the family.

I’ve heard a lot of stories about him, mostly from the family.

And while I was working in El-Al, I got to meet people who worked with him and remembered him to this day.

That’s how I got to know other sides of his great personality that left a mark on so many people.

love you saba.