What happened
Nira and Yigal Sarusi, parents of Almog Sarusi, an Israeli hostage killed by Hamas, have welcomed a baby boy named Lavi, born using an egg frozen 25 years ago. The baby was born via surrogate on Yom Kippur, two weeks before the third anniversary of Almog's kidnapping from the Nova music festival.
Almog, 26 at the time, was abducted by Hamas terrorists and killed in captivity 11 months later. His parents held out hope for his return for 331 days before his death was confirmed. The Sarusis decided to pursue surrogacy using eggs frozen 25 years earlier, with the blessing of their remaining children.
The couple kept their journey private, enduring a few failed rounds before finally succeeding. Lavi's birth has brought them joy, with Yigal saying, it's a true miracle. The baby's name, Lavi, means lion in Hebrew, symbolizing strength and courage.
Yigal hopes Lavi will embody the values of his older brother, who was known for his optimism, kindness, and bravery. The family is finding joy in their new addition, while still coping with the pain of their loss. As Yigal said, we cry, but we have the joy now. It's the two things together.
