Capt. (res.) Netanel Silberg, Levy’s fiancé, was killed in combat in Gaza in December 2023. The couple met on a blind date arranged by friends in May 2022.
"He was very handsome. He came to pick me up and waited for me outside his car, like a man from another era. He was tall — about 1.80 meters (approximately 5 feet, 11 inches) — well-built, and when he removed his glasses, he had the most beautiful green eyes. He was the whole package," Levy told Fox News Digital.
As the full extent of the Oct. 7 carnage emerged, Silberg answered the call to arms. Although his age and rank exempted him from serving in Gaza, he joined the first wave of soldiers deployed there.
"I kept telling him not to go, but he was restless. He went to pick up his army gear from his parents and said he would come back, but instead he went to the battlefield," Levy recalled.
While on leave the following month, Silberg bought a ring and proposed.
"We got engaged around November, but we didn't have a party. We never spoke about what I would do if something happened to him, because it wasn’t an option," Levy said.
On Dec. 18, 2023, Silberg was killed in action.
Because the couple was not married, Levy received no official notification; she learned of Silberg’s death through a phone call from his mother. It was on that call when Levy asked his mother the question that would continue on his legacy.
"I just remember lying on the carpet and begging his mother on the phone to ask them to perform the procedure to collect Netanel’s sperm. She said yes immediately," Levy said.
The procedure of collecting the deceased male's sperm, once rare, became common after Oct. 7, Dr. Eran Altman, director of the sperm bank and men’s infertility clinic at Rabin Medical Center–Beilinson Hospital, told Fox News Digital. The procedure is similar to one performed on infertile living men.
"In the week after Oct. 7, because of the mass killings, it took time to identify the bodies. We received them several days later and tried to retrieve sperm, but we found that after more than 72 hours, and usually after 48 hours, the sperm is no longer viable," he said.
Since then, the Israeli army has become more efficient at transporting bodies quickly, ensuring casualties arrive in their uniforms and gear to avoid delaying the procedure.
The sperm is preserved in liquid nitrogen at –196 degrees Celsius, where it can remain viable for decades.
Previously, a court order was required to collect the samples from fallen soldiers. Since Oct. 7, the law has been temporarily amended: the procedure can now be performed without a court order, but the sperm cannot be used without one. Altman’s clinic at Rabin Medical Center–Beilinson Hospital collected eleven sperm samples from Silberg.
During shiva, the seven-day Jewish mourning period, Levy told Silberg’s mother that she would begin the process of conceiving using his samples.
"I felt like there was no life without him and that I couldn’t continue. I felt it was the only living thing that I could still get from him. I wanted something from him growing inside me," Levy said.
Levy described the challenges of navigating her pregnancy without her partner. She said she had to take every test alone and explain his absence whenever asked about the father. With Netanel deceased, she was unable to undergo genetic screenings and often had to rely on his mother for information about his family.
In June, Levy gave birth to her son via C-section at Hadassah University Hospital on Mount Scopus in Jerusalem, where she had also undergone insemination accompanied by Dr. Efrat Esh-Broder from the IVF unit.
"I love him because he is who he is, not because he is his father’s son. I didn't call him Netanel. He is not a gravestone," she told Fox News Digital.
Three months later, her son has his father’s nose and ears. Levy said Silberg would have been upset, as he never liked his own features.
"We look at pictures of Netanel already. He needs to be proud of his dad, his dad’s story is one of bravery. He needs to know he has a dad and a family," she said.
Levy is frequently approached by women seeking guidance on the process. In addition to her, around six other IDF widows are pursuing parenthood using sperm retrieved from their deceased husbands.
The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization (IDFWO) offers comprehensive support throughout the process, helping families navigate emotional, legal, and medical challenges.
"You must want the child for the child and not for his father who was killed. It’s something that is forgotten sometimes. The child can’t only be his father’s son, it’s not fair. To the girls who want to do it, I say do it. It’s continuity, it’s life and it’s amazing," Levy said.
Shocking how any Jew can meet this terrorist supporting Islamo-nazi.
Shocking.
When they started teaching in their cheider to hate fellow Jews, this is the end result, associate with a modern day Hitler Y.S.
I now understand why many היימישע קרייזן will not not allow their child to marry anyone from that Kehilah until they do a full Yichus background check. The Shulchan Aruch is very clear רחמנים, ביישנים, וגומלי חסדים. If you are missing even one of the 3, the Yichus is questionable. Here you see people dressed in בגדי יום טוב, inviting a modern day Hitler into a Sukkah!!!
Shande!!!
There is also a strict prohibition in the Torah not to Pander to Evil People,
Here is the Prohibition in Hebrew and in English
איסור החנופה הוא חמור מאד, כי החנופה לרשע גורמת לחיזוק הרשע והרשעים, והחלשת הטוב והטובים, אם אפשר מצווה עלינו להוכיח את הרשע על מעשיו הרעים ולמחות בו ואם הוא לא מקבל את דברינו לשונאו ולעשות עימו מחלוקת, איננו אנשי מלחמות, איננו אוהבים להילחם, אך לעיתים אין ברירה ומצווה גדולה להילחם ולהיאבק ברשעים, ומי שלא נאבק עימם ויש לו את הכוח והעוצמה לעשות זאת הוא הופך להיות שותף למעשיהם,
אך גם שאין בכוחנו להוכיח, למחות ולהילחם, נצטוונו לכל הפחות שלא לחזק את הרשע בדברי שבח וחנופה. שהרי כל המחניף לרשע מחזקו ומעודדו להמשיך בדרכיו, ונמצא שנעשה שותף בחיזוק הרע בעולם. וזהו שנאמר (משלי יז, טו): "מַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע וּמַרְשִׁיעַ צַדִּיק – תּוֹעֲבַת ה' גַּם שְׁנֵיהֶם",
"אנשי האמת הם אלו שעומדים בגבורה כנגד הרשעה, ונזהרים שלא לחלוק על אנשים טובים.
ואלה שיראת השמיים שלהם מזויפת, מנצלים את איסור המחלוקת כדי להחניף לרשעים בעלי עמדה, אבל מוצאים כל מיני צידוקים כדי לעשות מחלוקת "לשם שמיים" כנגד אנשים טובים וישרים שחלשים מהם".
The prohibition of flattery is very severe, because flattery to the wicked strengthens the wicked and the wicked, and weakens the good and to those who do good. If possible, we are commanded to rebuke the wicked for his evil deeds and protest against him, and if he does not accept our words, one should at least hate and argue with him, we are not people of war, we do not like to fight, but sometimes there is no choice and a great mitzvah to fight and fight the wicked, and whoever does not fight with them and has the strength and power to do so, he becomes a partner in their actions.
But even though we are incapable of chastising, protesting, and fighting, we are at least commanded not to strengthen the evil with words of praise and flattery. For anyone who flatters the wicked strengthens him and encourages him to continue in his ways, then he has become a partner in strengthening evil in the world. This is what is written (Mishlei 17:15): "He justifies the wicked and condemns the righteous – the abomination of the Lord is both."
"The people of truth are those who stand bravely against wickedness, and are careful not to disagree with good people.
And those whose fear of Heaven is fake, and take advantage of the prohibition of discord to flatter the wicked , and find all kinds of justifications in order to create a dispute "for the sake of Heaven" against good and honest people who are weaker than them." The prohibition of flattery is very severe, because flattery to the wicked strengthens the wicked and the wicked.