Chabadnikit Sima Zalmanov explains “it’s a joy and a zchus to raise 19 children Baruch Hashem. Her story made the news a number of months ago, when the couple brought their 19th child into the world. Sima and her husband are now back in the news as the nation prepares to mark Family Day on Friday. Since the birth of their bachor 28 years ago, they have had 11 girls and 8 boys.

“It all depends on how one looks at things. If you see each child as a prize, it isn’t difficult at all”.

Sima is the principal of the Tzfas Chabad High School and her husband, Yosef, is a District Rav for Israel Prison Authority. “I have the same caretaker for 20 years already Baruch Hashem. She is a part of the family” adds Sima, who explains 11 of the children are still at home.

The older ones are married and two of the boys are out in yeshiva. “Baruch Hashem, we have time for each child, each has his own clothing, and each has the attention he/she needs.”

The Zalmanov’s are one of 994,753 families with children in Eretz Yisrael.

According to Bituach Leumi, 32% of families have one child under 18, 31% two children under 18, 4% six or more under 19, and 130,000 families are classified as ‘single parent’.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)