My mother Zohara gave birth to non-identical twins, a boy and a girl, on March 4th, 1954 in Beit Rivkah. After the delivery she was told there is a problem with the babies’ blood and that they need a suitable donor. My aunt from my father’s side came and gave a blood donation. The doctor and nurse told my mother there is only enough blood for one baby and that she should choose which baby to give it to. My aunt promised she would return the next day to give another blood donation and they said ok. After inquiring how many babies my mother had at home, and of what gender, they told my mother: “we will give the boy the blood and the girl will be given it tomorrow”. The next day my aunt came from Rosh Haayin to give a second blood donation but was told “there’s no need. The twin girl is dead”. Of course my mother and father cried out loud and demanded to see the body, because in 1951 they were told the same thing about their baby boy who was born in Sarafand [Tzrifin] and in that case too they were never got to see the body or a death certificate. After their screaming my parents were sent home with their twin boy and were told “you should be thankful your son is still alive, you have enough children at home”.

My mother testified at the Shalgi Committee. She was questioned in a highly disrespectful and condescending tone. Since she remembered quite a lot of details the plaintiff continued to investigate her, and asked her mockingly what was the weather that like day. To this day I remember the fury I felt. When we left the court house, a journalist took our picture and that’s how we got to post an announcement in the Yediot Acharonot newspaper with a picture of my mother, my twin brother and I.

20 years ago on Yossi Sias’s radio show a woman went on air on a Friday morning and said she is an adopted twin who was born in Beit Rivkah. As a child, she lived in the Gat Rimon neighborhood in Petach Tikvah and had found adoption papers in an old suitcase in the attic only after her parents passed away. I’m trying to track her as we have a strong feeling that that’s her.

Mali Simchi

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