Israeli Artist Yael Serlin Gives Birth Two Months After Son’s Death in Military Training

Yael Serlin, a 42-year-old artist and art lecturer from the urban kibbutz Beit Yisrael in Jerusalem, shared her poignant story of giving birth to her seventh child just two months after her eldest son, Yosef Chaim Tzvi, was killed during a military combat training exercise. Serlin discovered she was pregnant on her 41st birthday, a shock since she believed her childbearing years were over. Yosef, who was 19 when he died, had been serving in the IDF’s Unit 504 in intelligence and was killed in an incident that violated military protocols, currently under investigation by the Military Police.

Serlin described the emotional turmoil of losing Yosef, who was deeply loved by his family and friends, and the complex feelings of carrying new life amid profound grief. She recounted how she shared the pregnancy news with her children during the Sukkot holiday, receiving support especially from Yosef himself before his death. The birth of her son Benjamin on May 26, exactly two months after Yosef’s death, was a moment of intense emotion, symbolizing the coexistence of life and loss.

Throughout her life, Serlin has balanced her artistic career and religious faith, having returned to Orthodox Judaism during her military service. Her art has become a channel for processing her grief and honoring her son’s memory. She is preparing for a solo exhibition titled "Four Amot," opening July 17 in Jerusalem, which reflects her private world and the pain of motherhood after loss. Serlin emphasizes the importance of genuine empathy for bereaved mothers and the enduring bond between a mother and her children, living or deceased.