Israel Welcomes First Babies of New Hebrew Year

The new Hebrew year, 5787, began on Friday with the birth of babies across Israel, marking new beginnings and celebrations in maternity wards nationwide. At the Lis Maternity and Women's Hospital at Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv, parents Tamar and Assaf welcomed their newborn son, with midwife Diana Dvash assisting. This birth ushered in the new year for their family with double joy.

In the north, the Cohen Elalishvili family from the community of Hodiyot also celebrated the new year with a new arrival. Hodaya, who was 39 weeks pregnant, arrived with her husband Tal and their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Noam in Tiberias for Rosh Hashanah. Experiencing mild contractions, the family went to the maternity emergency room at the Galilee Medical Center (Poriya).

Things progressed quickly, and a baby girl was born in the delivery room with the help of midwives Nidal Khatib and Tahrir Masalha. Masalha, a deputy and shift manager at Poriya, described the special atmosphere of the birth coinciding with the holiday. She noted that Hodaya was calm and determined, delivering naturally without pain medication and cooperating fully. Masalha added that for the medical team, there is no more exciting way to start the new year than with a birth, calling it a great privilege to be present with the family during such a moment of joy and hope.