A Lot of Birthdays

There was a party happening in the lobby of the in Abington Thursday afternoon — karaoke music was blaring and residents were dancing.

The event?  A birthday party … but not your typical birthday party.

Residents gathered to celebrate the 106^th birthday of Edith Rosen, and no, that’s not a typo. Rosen’s actual birthday is today.

Rosen periodically stays at the facility. This is her fourth respite stay at the place. A resident of Elkins Park, Rosen stays at the facility when her children, with whom she lives, go on vacation.

Sunrise staff members are quick to say that Rosen is very social and eager to help others. She’s also a big fan of Rummikub. 

“Edith has more energy than most people in their 40s,” Sharon Damsker, a director at Sunrise said. “She is so … she just has so much drive.”

Rosen is very “with it,” as people say.  She also has a firm handshake and a great sense of humor.    

Rosen emigrated from Lithuania along with her five siblings in 1921. Saving you a trip to the calculator on your dock, that would maker her about 15 years old. Her husband was a tailor, so she learned the craft, and became an expert seamstress. (She’s also an expert baker, apparently baking up a killer zucchini latke.)

As for her time in Lithuania, Rosen said she doesn’t like to talk about it.

“If I were to write a book, I would write it with tears in my eyes,” Rosen said.

However, Rosen said she is very religious and content that she doesn’t have to hide her religion as she and other women had to in her home country; she’s able to read the Torah freely here and is active in her synagogues — Temple Har Zion in Mount Holly, N.J., and Adath Jesherun. And she keeps kosher. 

Rosen has three kids, eight grand children, 18 great-grand kids and one great-great grandchild.

“The first thing Edith said about the party was, ‘I don’t know why everyone is doing this for me — I’m just 106,’” Jean Brophy Executive Director of Sunrise, said.  “She was deeply touched.”