Parents Welcome New Son Five Months After Tragic Death of Three-Year-Old
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Parents Or and Sarah Ben Shabbat welcomed a baby boy five months after their three-and-a-half-year-old son, Elai Yehonatan, died in a car accident in Or Akiva on May 27. The family, who also have four other children, described the birth as a sign that "life triumphs" amidst their grief. The investigation into Elai's death, caused by a car he allegedly was not seen by the driver, is ongoing. The parents expressed deep sorrow but no anger, thanking the public for their support.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Or and Sarah Ben Shabbat welcomed a new son five months after their son Elai died in a car accident.
- Three-and-a-half-year-old Elai Yehonatan Ben Shabbat was killed in Or Akiva on May 27.
- The parents stated that the birth of their new son brings light after a period of immense grief.
- The investigation into the accident that killed Elai is still ongoing.
- The father expressed no anger or blame, calling the death a "decree from heaven."
- The new baby joins four older siblings.
Five months after their three-and-a-half-year-old son, Elai Yehonatan Ben Shabbat, was killed in a car accident in Or Akiva, his parents Or and Sarah have welcomed a baby boy into their family. The family announced the birth of their new son over the weekend, bringing a measure of light after a period of profound grief.
Elai was struck and killed by a vehicle on the afternoon of May 27. His parents described him as a "child of light, small in years and large in soul." At the time of the accident, his mother Sarah was five months pregnant. The new baby joins his older siblings, Tehila, 11, Avishag, 9, Tohar, 7, and Rafael, 6.
"The pain and sorrow are incomprehensible, we are completely broken," said the father, Or. He expressed gratitude to the Israeli public for their support during the difficult time, stating, "I feel that all of the people of Israel are sharing in our sorrow." Or emphasized that he harbors no anger or blame towards anyone, viewing the tragedy as "a decree from heaven." He added that Elai's soul will remain with them forever.
An investigation into the circumstances of the accident is ongoing, with it still unclear how Elai came to be on the road. The driver involved claimed he did not see the child.
"This was a very difficult and complex period for all of us," Or said, crying. "We lost Elai Yehonatan in a tragic accident near our home. We haven't stopped crying, because he was a smiling child loved by everyone. My wife and I would do anything to have him with us at home. Amidst the tragedy, with the support of the people of Israel who embraced us after the heavy disaster, we were blessed in the last few days with another son who joined the family. It is very heartwarming to see that life triumphs. The day we lost Elai was the hardest day of our lives."
He recounted that Elai was buried hours after the accident, and the family resolved to continue living alongside the tragedy. "There were many tears, many moments of brokenness and a lot of longing. Now we all know that life is stronger than anything, and we are happy, with tears of excitement, for the privilege of bringing another son into the family alongside the family tragedy that befell us."