Tricia Schwitzer

A Thatcher child, a true blue disciple of Tory values, I was raised on good, old-fashioned principles of work hard and do as you would be done by – principles that I continue to live by.

My aliyah at the age of 43 did not come about because I yearned to return to Zion. No. I yearned to be in the arms of the man I love (long story, one day I will write it) but since I did return to Zion, and have been shown great love both by the man (now my husband) and by this gorgeous, tiny state with the big attitude, I have put heart and soul into giving something back.

Since 2005, I have volunteered for World WIZO (the Women’s International Zionist Organization), serving on the executive in various capacities, as well as serving on the executive of Friends of WIZO. When I first made aliyah, in 2001, I worked in the public affairs department of World WIZO, headed by Brenda Katten, a woman I admire greatly, co-editing the ‘Fuller Picture’ newsletter and later, I worked as deputy editor of "The WIZO Review.”

My background is in marketing, purchase and supply, and have held a number of positions in that field back in Manchester, from company director to premiums buyer, both of which had me hopping on and off Cathay Pacific to the Far East, visiting go-downs in Hong Kong and factories in China sourcing promotional gift items.

They say you can take the girl out of Manchester, but you can’t take Manchester out of the girl. In my case, that is very apt. I still have one foot in Marks and Sparks and maintain a great devotion to the orderly supermarket aisles of Tesco and Sainsbury (oh please, don’t get me started on the Israeli version of customer service). More importantly, one of my sons, Ric, still lives there and I like to remind him that I am his mother occasionally. I did manage to lure Nic, my youngest son, here to Israel. His aliyah is still a work in progress.

I love the life I have carved out here with my lovely hubby, Avi, and my two ninja black cats. I love bitching that the weather is too hot and the way ‘Israelis Horribilis’ drive. But they took me into their hearts so I forgive them (mostly).