Names Released Of Infants Who Died In Yerushalayim Daycare Tragedy

The Jewish community was shocked Monday evening after two infants lost their lives and dozens were injured in a Yerushalayim daycare after toxic chemicals leaked from the building’s heating equipment.

The two infants were identified as Lia Tzipora Golovnetsitz, a”h, and Aharon (Ari) Katz a”h.

The incident occurred Monday afternoon at a daycare on Hamem-Gimmel Street in the Romema neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

Emergency responders evacuated 55 children from the daycare to hospitals across the city. Two four-month-old infants were transported in critical condition to Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center while undergoing resuscitation efforts. Both were later pronounced dead.

Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog, issued a statement following the tragedy, saying: “I share in the deep sorrow of the parents of the babies and the pain of the families. The loss of the lives of young toddlers is a deep, indescribable heartbreak, and my heart goes out to all the parents and children who were affected.”

Lia Tziporah was approximately three and a half months old. She was the daughter of Rabbi Mordechai Dovid Golovnetsitz, an avreich, and the granddaughter of Rabbi Binyamin Golovnetsitz of Ramat Shlomo. Her mother is Mrs. Bracha Golovnetsitz, from the Rolnik family.

The family had recently moved to Romema from Pisgat Ze’ev.

Shortly afterward, Lia’s mother shared a message on social media, writing: “My Lia, thank you for being mine. Your soul will be within me forever. Baruch Dayan HaEmes.”

Lia is survived by her parents and a younger brother.

The second victim, Ari Katz, was four months old. Family members said Monday was Ari’s first day at the daycare, after his mother dropped him off there for the first time that morning.

Ari was the son of Rabbi Yaakov Katz. His mother, Mrs. Channa Katz (née Eisenbach), had previously left her career in clothing production to focus on raising her children.

Her brother described the family’s anguish, saying: “Chani, my sister, left the entire world… to be with her Ari. Today, for the first time since he was born, she left him for just a few hours with a maternal caregiver she knew personally and trusted. And what happened, happened. We don’t know the cheshbonos of Shamayim.”

Family members noted that they had sent their older children to the same caregiver in the past and regarded her as caring and reliable.

To determine the precise cause of death, the infants were transported by Holon Ambulance to the Abu Kabir Institute of Forensic Medicine. In keeping with kavod hameis, officials said only an external CT scan will be conducted.

Details regarding the levayos will be released when available