Yisrael Kristal (born Izrael Icek Kryształ; September 15, 1903 – August 11, 2017) was a Polish‑born Israeli supercentenarian and Holocaust survivor. In later life he was widely reported and formally recognized as the world’s oldest living man and described in media and some records as the oldest known survivor of the Holocaust. His long life spanned major events of the twentieth century and attracted public attention in his final years. Biographical sources provide further details about his early identity and family background.

Early life and occupation

Kristal was born in what was then part of the Austro‑Hungarian/Polish region; sources indicate he grew up in a Jewish community in eastern Europe. Before World War II he was involved in the confectionery trade, a common occupation in many Polish towns; reports note he practiced craftsmanship and ran or worked in businesses that produced sweets and baked goods. These early years shaped his professional skills and community role. Background reading places his prewar career in local economic context.

Persecution and survival

During the Nazi era Kristal suffered the fate of millions of European Jews: he was persecuted, deported and interned in Nazi concentration camps, and lost a significant portion of his immediate family. He survived the camps and the war’s end, a fact that later made him one of the most publicly recognized living links to that history. Accounts of his wartime experience are summarized in historical notices and survivor testimonies. Holocaust records and survivor accounts describe that period in broader detail.

Life after the war and recognition

After World War II Kristal resettled in what became the State of Israel, where he rebuilt his life in the postwar decades. In his advanced age he attracted media attention and was the subject of interviews and celebratory coverage around milestone birthdays. Organizations that track extreme longevity and several news outlets acknowledged him as the world’s oldest living man, and his status as a long‑lived Holocaust survivor was frequently noted. Reports on his later life include coverage of these recognitions. For formal recognition of longevity records, see references compiled by record‑keeping bodies. Records and acknowledgements

Legacy and notable facts

Kristal’s life is often cited in discussions about survival, memory and demographic extremes. He serves as a reminder of individual histories behind large historical events and as an example in studies of centenarians. Key points about his life include:

  • Born Izrael Icek Kryształ in 1903 and died August 11, 2017 at age 113 years, 330 days.
  • Survived Nazi persecution and concentration camps; lost family members during the Holocaust.
  • Rebuilt his life after the war in Israel and lived to be one of the world’s oldest documented men.

While publicly notable for his age and the dramatic span of his life, Kristal is also remembered as one individual among many whose personal stories contribute to collective memory of the twentieth century. Readers seeking more detailed archival material or primary sources should consult the linked reference collections and surviving interviews for context and firsthand testimony. Further biography