NIS 52 million lottery winner says news ‘felt like the UN vote in 1947’
50-year-old says he bought ticket while at the mall with friends, while rest of country was at protests; plans to buy an apartment and deposit the rest for now
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A 50-year-old resident of the southern city of Ashdod claimed his NIS 52 million ($15,200,640) prize money on Monday at the Mifal Hapayis national lottery headquarters in Tel Aviv, Hebrew media reported.
The winner, who celebrated his birthday last week, said he was taken back to the United Nations 1947 vote in favor of partitioning Palestine and establishing a Jewish state as he checked the results on Sunday.
He recalled reading numbers on his first seven tickets and coming up empty handed; but on the eighth ticket, his luck changed. “3- yes, 6 – yes, 11 – yes, 16 – yes, 26 – yes, 34 – yes, and finally (the power number) 6 – yes. I was very excited and shouted ‘yes! yes!’ It reminded me of the word ‘yes,’ which was said by the representatives of the countries that recognized the establishment of the State of Israel.”
The 50-year-old said that while “everyone was at protests” Saturday night, he went to the mall with friends. There he purchased the ticket, after seeing a Mifal Hapayis sign advertising the prize money. There have been a series of anti-corruption protests on Saturday nights.
The new millionaire said he plans to continue working as usual, but admits to not having closed his eyes since learning the results, the report said.
He told reporters at a press conference from the Mifal Hapayis headquarters that he would first use the money to buy an apartment, because he is currently renting. The 50-year-old said the remainder of the winnings would be deposited for a couple of months, while he speaks to financial advisers about how to best manage the sum.
The Times of Israel Community.