Every birth brings drama and excitement, but baby Ron’s arrival at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel was particularly moving for both the family and hospital staff.
Tal (24) and Ram (27) Malama recently welcomed their first daughter at Rambam, choosing a name carrying profound significance. Her name honors their dear friend, Major Raz Peretz (z”l), who fell in the heroic battle of October 7, 2023.
Before Ram met Tal, he had already formed a close friendship with Raz. The three later crossed paths during an officer training course, where Tal and Ram’s bond grew. “Raz was with his company at Kissufim on October 7 when the terrorists infiltrated,” Ram recalls. “He was a hero who protected everyone there and saved lives through his sacrifice.”
L) Ram Malama and R) Raz Peretz (z”l) during their military service.
Photo courtesy of the family.
Peretz, a Major in the elite Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion, defended the Kissufim base in the Gaza envelope during a Hamas terrorist attack. Recognizing the imminent danger, he quickly gathered 18 comrades into a fortified shelter, preparing them for the assault. During the attack, Peretz shielded his soldiers with his body, sacrificing his life alongside six others. His actions saved 12 soldiers and enabled him to get two friends away from the Nova festival.
A few months after Peretz’s passing, Tal visited his grave, an experience that altered her life. “Ram and I were newlyweds, married on August 23, and struggling to conceive,” Tal shares. “A few weeks after visiting Raz’s grave, we discovered I was pregnant. When we did the math, we realized I conceived on the day of that visit. Nine months later, on January 25, Raz’s birthday, I gave birth.”
For Tal and Ram, these events are no coincidence. “Raz is a brother for life,” Ram says. “Even after his passing, he watches over us. He’s always been a part of us, and he always will be.”
The couple have named their daughter Ron, a name symbolizing joy, happiness, poetry, and song, in honor of Major Raz Peretz and his love for those things. “She’ll grow up hearing about him and knowing him,” the parents say. “Raz will remain an inseparable part of her life and ours. Through her name, he will always be with us.”
Major Raz Peretz (z”l) was 24 years old when he fell. He is survived by his parents, a brother, a sister, and his fiancée, Noam Weitzman, whom he was supposed to marry in March, 2024.
Tal Malama (far left) stands next to the parents of Major Peretz (z"l), Nava Peretz, holding newborn Ron and Roni Peretz, with Ram Malama on the far right.
Photo courtesy of the family.
