For Nira and Yigal Sarusi, the birth of their son feels like a miracle written in heaven.
Nearly three years after Hamas terrorists abducted their son Almog on Oct. 7 and killed him in captivity 11 months later, the Sarusis have welcomed a baby boy. His birth was made possible by eggs frozen 25 years ago during a medical procedure — and by what the grieving parents describe as divine intervention.
Lavi was born on Yom Kippur, just two weeks before the third anniversary of Israel’s darkest day. That was when Hamas terrorists kidnapped his brother, then 26, from the Nova music festival.
Though Almog had been shot, the civil engineering student remained behind to help his injured girlfriend, Shahar, who was later killed.
He had planned to propose to her the following year.
“It’s a true miracle,” Yigal told The Post. As life was cruelly taken from their family, he said, new life has emerged in a miraculous way — proof that evil will not prevail.
“It’s all from God,” said the 60-year-old father.
For 331 agonizing days, the Sarusis held on to hope that their “hero” son would come home alive. That hope was shattered when Hamas executed Almog and five other hostages.
Almog, Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and four others were killed deep inside Gaza, in a Rafah tunnel, in August 2024 — moments before the IDF was about to reach them. The six hostages later became known as “The Beautiful Six.”
Images of Almog’s inconsolable parents at his funeral left an indelible mark on the nation.
As they mourned their eldest child, one of four, the Sarusis recalled that eggs had been frozen roughly 25 years earlier as part of a medical procedure. With the support and blessing of their other children, they decided to pursue surrogacy.
The couple, who live in Ra’anana, kept the journey private.
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“We didn’t talk about it because we didn’t know if it would succeed,” Yigal said, explaining that they went through several unsuccessful attempts. “But he’s 100% ours.”
In Hebrew, Lavi means “lion” — a fitting name for the child his parents see as a symbol of strength and hope.
“He’s the future of Israel,” Yigal said. “I want all of Israel to love this kid.”
Starting over at ages 58 and 60, with diapers and sleepless nights, has not been easy. But to the Sarusis, every moment is priceless.
“We knew this moment would feel good. But it’s even better than we imagined,” Yigal said. He added that Lavi resembles his oldest brother.
“We’re insisting that life goes on,” Yigal said defiantly.
“It’s pure joy that we have a new son. The heart is getting full.”
Yigal hopes his baby boy will carry Almog’s values and spirit. He remembers his eldest son as a “brave, strong, optimistic” young man who volunteered to tutor children and shopped for families in need during the holidays. Almog was also rarely without his two favorite possessions: his guitar and his white Jeep.
“We teach his values – we are all Almog now.”
The message Lavi sends the world is simple, said Yigal.
“This is the boy who carries strength and courage,” he said. “We still have the pain and that pain will never end. It doesn’t erase the pain. Nothing can.
“We cry, but we have the joy now. It’s the two things together.”
