Fifty-year-old bereaved mother gives birth

Malka Haham, who lost her two sons two years ago in horrific road accident, recently gave birth to twin boys

Malka with Yotam and Yoav z"l Haham family

Two years ago, Malka Haham's world collapsed. Her two sons Yotam (26) and his younger brother Yoav (22) were crossing Jabotinsky Street in Petah Tikva, when a bus hit them, killing them instantly. 

It was the latest in a series of fatal accidents involving pedestrians and busses that had occurred following the decision to open the public transport lane, despite safety concerns. Fifteen pedestrians had already been killed crossing the street before the accident, and shortly before the Haham brothers were killed, Transport Minister Yisrael Katz was warned that another fatal accident was a matter of time, yet decided not to take any action.

A week later, the accident happened. Within a few minutes, a happy family of five had been reduced to a grief stricken one of three, Malka, her husband Yehuda, and their teenage daughter Amit.  

Shortly after the mourning period, Malka decided to launch a campaign to close the lane and have those responsible for the carnage that resulted from the reckless decision to open the lane brought to justice. So far the campaign had had mixed results. After a few more accidents, the lane was finally closed, but so far, no official has suffered any consequence. 

Yehuda feeding one of the twins Ronen Mayo

A year later, she decided that since she could still conceive, she wanted to have another child. Yehuda supported her decision, but her daughter Amit was very much against it, saying it felt like her mother was trying to replace her brothers. She is still ambivalent about the fact that at sixteen she has become a sister to two baby brothers.  

Yehuda and Malka are still getting used to doing what they haven't been doing for over a dozen years, such as getting up in the middle of the night and changing nappies. "As first it was a shock", said Yehuda, but we have created a routine that works for us, and in fact it has brought us closer together".  

Malka admits that although most of her family, friends and acquaintances are happy for her, she has heard comments that she is trying to replace the sons she lost. "Nothing could be further from the truth", she says. "I know I'm living a complex situation, but have no regrets". "Oue newborn sons can never replace Yotam and Yoav, nor would I want them to be weighed down with such a burden". "Our late sons will always be with us and part of us,, I know its complicated, but it feels right, I feel I've succeeded in restoring some degree of balance to my life".

The duties of motherhood have not diminished Malka's determination to see those she holds responsible for the death of Yotam and Yoav pay for their negligence and irresponsibility.