Slain Hostage's Family Welcomes New Son Born From 25-Year-Old Frozen Embryo
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
The family of Almog Sarusi, an Israeli man murdered in Gaza captivity, celebrated the birth of his younger brother, Lavi. Lavi was conceived from an embryo frozen by Almog's parents 25 years ago, offering a glimmer of hope amidst their profound grief.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Slain hostage Almog Sarusi's family welcomed his newborn brother, Lavi.
- Lavi was conceived from an embryo frozen 25 years ago.
- Almog was abducted from Nova festival and murdered in Gaza.
- His family sees the birth as a miracle and a source of hope.
- The birth occurred on Yom Kippur, following a surrogacy process.
The family of Almog Sarusi, a hostage murdered by Hamas in Gaza, has welcomed the birth of his younger brother, Lavi. The baby was conceived from an embryo that Almog's parents, Nira and Yigal, froze 25 years ago. Almog, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, survived nearly a year in captivity before being killed alongside five other hostages in a Hamas tunnel. His sister, Amit, shared the news on Instagram, writing, "Almog, you must know this already because you moved things up there for this to happen. But you also have a little brother from Mom and Dad." She added, "A brother who will grow up knowing his older brother is a hero beyond compare. I love you Almog and miss you. We will not let evil win, we will continue in your path and make you proud."
The birth of Lavi, born on Yom Kippur, is seen as a beacon of hope for the Sarusi family, who continue to mourn Almog's death. "The absence, the pain, and the longing live within us every moment," Amit wrote. "Nothing will heal the pain and life simply continues alongside it."
Almog Sarusi, 27, was among six hostages whose bodies were recovered from a tunnel in Rafah in August 2024. An IDF investigation indicated they were shot and killed by Hamas operatives about a day before Israeli forces reached the tunnel, unaware of their exact location. The bodies showed signs of neglect and previous injuries sustained during the abduction.
Ra'anana Mayor Chaim Broyde, who attended the circumcision ceremony, described the event as "a story of a long, complex journey, in the format of a reality that exceeds all imagination." He explained that the parents had undergone fertility treatments 25 years prior, freezing embryos, which were later rediscovered amidst their grief. After finding the embryos, the family decided to pursue having another child, enlisting a surrogate. "A righteous woman answered the request out of a mitzvah (commandment)," Broyde stated. The initial attempts to create an embryo were unsuccessful, but a subsequent effort, described as a "last chance," resulted in the birth of Lavi.
The family stated in their invitation to the circumcision, "A miracle happened to us. Thanks to a wonderful surrogate, a son was born to us on Yom Kippur. We will forever carry the pain for Almog, may his memory be a blessing, but we are full of hope that alongside the pain, we will succeed in rejoicing in the gifts that God has given us."
Mentioned
