Hadas Levy Welcomes Baby After Loss of Fiancé in War
On June 11, Hadas Levy made history by becoming the first woman in Israel to give birth to a child fathered by a soldier who died in combat during the ongoing conflict with Hamas. This tragic situation followed the violent events of October 7, where over 1,200 lives were lost.
Levy’s fiancé, Capt. Netanel Silberg, was killed in action in Gaza in December 2023. The couple met on a blind date in May 2022, and Levy remembers him vividly. “He was very handsome,” she said. “When he took off his glasses, he had the most beautiful green eyes.”
In the wake of the violence on October 7, Silberg felt compelled to serve, even though he was not required to. “I kept telling him not to go,” Levy recalled, but he was determined to join his fellow soldiers.
Before leaving for combat, he proposed to Levy. They got engaged in November, but due to the circumstances, they never had a proper celebration. Tragically, Silberg was killed in action just weeks later.
Levy shared a heart-wrenching moment when she felt a wave of nausea at the same time Silberg lost his life. She learned about his death through a call from his mother, which changed her life forever. In that moment, she pleaded with Silberg’s mother to allow for the retrieval of his sperm, ensuring a chance at continuing his legacy.
“The procedure to collect sperm from fallen soldiers has become more common due to the recent violence,” said Dr. Eran Altman from a local medical center. He explained that the sperm can be preserved for many years, allowing families to have children even after such tragic losses.
After the procedure was performed, Levy made a decision to pursue motherhood. During the customary mourning period, she committed to using Silberg’s samples to conceive. “I wanted something of him growing inside me,” she shared.
Levy faced her pregnancy challenges mostly alone, often sharing her situation with medical staff who would ask about the father. Despite the absence of her partner, she gave birth via C-section in June at Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem.
“I love him for who he is, not just because he is his father’s son,” Levy stated, emphasizing her desire for her child to know about Silberg’s bravery and story.
Now, as she navigates the joys and challenges of motherhood, Levy is also receiving support from organizations dedicated to helping widowed mothers. She has become a source of inspiration for other widows seeking to become parents through similar means.
“Doing this is about continuing life. It’s amazing,” Levy advised those considering this path, reminding them that the child should be cherished for their own identity.
