Azrieli Group’s Palace Tel Aviv senior living residence is marking its 20th anniversary, highlighting a model of retirement living built around remaining in the heart of the city rather than leaving it behind.
The residence, located in Tel Aviv’s Weizmann Center near Ichilov Medical Center, was designed to offer hotel-level services with a residential atmosphere, combining medical support, security, cultural programming, social life, and access to Tel Aviv’s theaters, cafés, cinemas, and performance venues.
For many of its residents, Palace Tel Aviv has become a way to preserve the rhythm of urban life while gaining the support of a managed residential community. The residence is within walking distance of major cultural sites, allowing longtime Tel Avivians to continue attending performances, meeting friends, and taking part in the city’s daily life.
Nina Avidar Weiner, a Palace Tel Aviv resident who was selected in 2025 as a recipient of the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, said the residence exceeded her expectations.
“My life here is far beyond what I expected,” Weiner said. “Even in the United States there is no assisted living at this level, and I would definitely recommend that seniors join. Life here is interesting, and I never feel alone.”
A response to loneliness and changing senior needs
Palace Tel Aviv’s 20th anniversary comes as senior living in Israel increasingly focuses on independence, social connection, and culture, alongside practical services and medical support.
Many residents who move into the residence are widowed or coping with loneliness, while others want to avoid relying too heavily on their children. At Palace Tel Aviv, residents are offered fitness classes, lectures, cultural events, performances, and organized trips in Israel and abroad.
The residence also provides 24/7 reception and security, readily available medical support, and services that include cooking, cleaning, maintenance, and bill management.
Dalia Prizant, a Palace Tel Aviv resident who worked for decades in radio and media, mainly in entertainment, culture, and music programming, said the residence continues to surprise her after two years of living there.
“Life at Palace Tel Aviv doesn’t look like assisted living at all,” Prizant said. “It’s vibrant and pleasant, with fascinating lectures, cultural activities, and trips. This place has everything a person could ask for.”
‘Habima, the Philharmonic, and Tzavta are all nearby’
Adi Etzion Zak, a Tel Aviv-based artist and actress who has lived at Palace Tel Aviv since June 2024, said she first became familiar with the residence years earlier as a performer at its events.
“I performed at Palace events as an artist as early as 11 years ago, so I already knew the place and connected with the people and residents,” she said. “Even then I knew that when the time came, I would move here.”
After her husband died, Etzion Zak said, the central location became one of the main reasons she chose the residence.
“Habima, the Philharmonic, and Tzavta are all nearby,” she said. “The fact that the residence supports my performances and encourages my artistic work was also very important to me.”
Etzion Zak, who recently received a lifetime achievement award marking 55 years of creative work, said senior living can play a major role in addressing isolation.
“Loneliness is the most difficult condition for a person,” she said. “It affects the soul, not only the body. Assisted living allows people to be surrounded by friends, culture, and a wealth of interest, and to form new friendships.”
A community built around culture and continuity
Weiner, who has been active in Switzerland, the United States, and Israel, co-founded the ISEF Foundation with Edmond J. and Lily Safra. The foundation works to expand higher education opportunities for students from Israel’s geographic and social periphery.
“We started with 350 students,” Weiner said. “The foundation has existed for 49 years. We now have over 10,000 alumni, many of them professors and leading figures.”
She said receiving the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement in 2025 was deeply meaningful.
“I was selected last year as a recipient of the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, for my special contribution to society and the country, and I was deeply moved by the recognition of our work over the years,” she said.
For Palace Tel Aviv, the 20-year milestone reflects a broader shift in the way some seniors want to age: close to culture, close to community, and close to the places that shaped their lives.