From the Liveblog of
Monday, January 19, 2026
Great-grandson of senior Haredi MK among babies evacuated from unlicensed daycare
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleRossella Tercatin is The Times of Israel's archaeology and religions reporter.
The great-grandson of Haredi MK Meir Porush, a member of the United Torah Judaism party, is among the children evacuated from an unlicensed daycare in the Romema neighborhood of Jerusalem, where two babies lost their lives earlier today, according to the Ynet news site.
Israel Porush, the former mayor of Elad and the baby’s grandfather, says his grandson is in good condition.
“I was here in Jerusalem in the middle of a meeting, and I got a call from my son that he needed something urgent,” he tells Ynet.
“We arrived at the scene, and the paramedics showed pictures of the babies,” he adds. “Thank God the baby is alive, he is breathing and in good condition. My heart goes out to the other children, this is not an easy moment. I know that there are children whose condition is not good, it is worrying and scary.”
Medical experts and authorities are trying to determine the cause of the incident that left two babies dead and others with difficulties in breathing. Possible explanations include excessive temperatures caused by heaters in unventilated, crowded spaces.
Some 55 babies and toddlers were kept at the daycare in an apartment. Images circulating in Hebrew media show children sleeping on bathroom floors and in closets.
The Times of Israel Community.