At the ripe age of ninety, Rina Ashkenazi is not giving into aging and mortality; rather, she is pushing her elderly body to its limits as she takes on a mission that has haunted her for half a century.
At a young age, Ashkenazi was conscripted into the Israeli Defence Force as part of a program to encourage women to join the armed forces. Unwilling to become a part of a program which she felt was unjust and oppressive to the citizens of her nation, Ashkenazi refused to continue her service and fled her conscripted post. Ashkenazi’s actions eventually led to her being convicted of desertion, making her the first ever Israeli woman to be charged under such a statute.
Now in her nineties, Ashkenazi has decided to make her dream of running the Jerusalem marathon a reality, although this time it is not out of fear. She hopes that her run will serve as a symbol of the strength of aging individuals and the idea that despite the physical and mental decline that may come with age, one can still accomplish amazing feats.
Ashkenazi has chosen an admirable path of redemption, demonstrating that no matter the personal troubles one may have experienced in life, it is never too late to make a move and start to turn things around. It is an example of hope that encourages individuals to never give up.
With her 90th marathon looming, Ashkenazi is determined to make this run an example of the possibilities that age should not limit. As she takes her place on the starting line, Rina Ashkenazi is sending a powerful message that age should not limit dreams and ambitions.
