On Monday, a 60‑year‑old couple in Ra'anana gave birth to a baby boy named Lavi after retrieving a surrogate. The child was conceived using eggs that the parents had frozen during a medical procedure over 25 years ago. Their decision followed the loss of their eldest son, Almog, who was killed in Hamas captivity.
Almog was 26 when he vanished during the October 7 Hamas assault on the Nova music festival, and his body was recovered by Israeli forces in August 2024. The Sarusi family had four children before Almog, and the tragedy has left a deep scar on the household.
The couple located a surrogate after a prolonged search for the stored eggs and kept the pregnancy and birth private until the circumcision ceremony. The ceremony, held on Yom Kippur, attracted close relatives and the mayor of Ra'anana.
In a statement, the family described the event as a "miracle" and a testament to resilience, while the mayor spoke of tears and hope. The newborn’s arrival brings a bittersweet blend of grief and renewed purpose to a family that has endured unimaginable loss.