Tu B'Av love story: How two Jerusalem retirees found love after a lifetime apart

Barry Halpern, 90, and Rica Cuperman, 80, residents of Mediterranean Towers Jerusalem, found love unexpectedly in retirement, a story highlighted for Tu B'Av. Barry, an American immigrant and former interior designer, moved to Israel in November 2022 after a lifelong dream. Rica, a Romanian-born Israeli who worked for the Jerusalem Municipality's Welfare Department, had lived an independent life. Their relationship began after a chance meeting at the complex's coffee bar and a subsequent dinner invitation from Barry following his health scares. Despite their different backgrounds—Barry is religious and American, Rica is secular and Israeli—they have built a deep connection based on mutual respect and shared experiences. Barry noted, "We weren't expecting it. I certainly wasn't looking for it. It just happened." Their story exemplifies that "love knows no age," as stated by Noa Pasternak-Bardugo, CEO of Mediterranean Towers Jerusalem.