Mother Shares Harrowing Journey of Loss and Faith After Son's Death
Translated & summarized from Walla by baba
Yifat Levin shared her story of overcoming immense loss, including four miscarriages and the sudden death of her son Yonatan Elimelech at age two. Speaking on Hani Lipschitz's program, Levin described how her experiences fostered empathy and a deep understanding of supportive presence. Despite the tragedy, she and her husband chose to build a joyful family life, finding strength in faith and acceptance. Levin now views her son as a spiritual teacher.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yifat Levin shared her journey of loss, including four miscarriages and her son's death, on a radio program.
- She described the pain of unexplained miscarriages and the sudden death of her son, Yonatan Elimelech, at age two.
- Levin learned the importance of empathetic presence and quiet support for those grieving.
- Despite her loss, she and her husband chose to embrace joy and resilience.
- She views her son as a spiritual teacher who guides her faith and love.
Yifat Levin, a consultant, lecturer, and educator from Beit El, shared her profound experiences of loss and resilience on Hani Lipschitz's program, "Yoman Masa." Her journey began with four consecutive, unexplained miscarriages, leaving her questioning her own worth and spirituality. "I come to the doctor at the end of the first trimester and he tells me: 'I'm sorry, there's no heartbeat'... and time passes, and still no heartbeat... The fourth time, I say: What is happening here? What is wrong with me? What did I do wrong?" she recounted, describing the guilt and spiritual crisis she endured.
These difficult experiences, however, fostered in her a deep understanding of human sensitivity and empathy. She learned the importance of quiet, supportive presence over platitudes, emphasizing, "When you see someone like that, just knock on the door and tell them: 'I noticed, I'm with you, do you need anything?'... Just sit and be silent with the person."
After a long path to motherhood, her son, Yonatan Elimelech, was born. The family's joy was shattered when Yonatan suddenly passed away at two years and eight months old on a Shabbat morning. "My husband goes to wake Yonatan, and then he lets out a bloodcurdling scream: 'The child isn't breathing, he isn't breathing,'" Levin recalled the devastating moment. "Within a moment, CPR begins on the living room table."
Despite the immense pain of losing a child, Levin chose not to succumb to despair. Instead, she and her husband resolved to build a joyful family life, stating, "We will be a happy family... The house knows how to cry, and the house knows how to laugh and dance." She views this acceptance of reality not as a denial of grief, but as a way to allow emotions to coexist with an active choice to live. She likens her ability to rise from devastation to the "Modim" prayer, where one bows in humility and then straightens up, finding strength in acknowledging incomprehension and difficulty.
Levin now sees her son Yonatan as a messenger and guide, stating, "He is my teacher of faith and my teacher of love, because of everything we went through."