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HERSH GOLDBERG POLIN
CHANGED OUR LIVES
The Jewish week begins on Saturday night, just after the sun sets. As the week started last Saturday night, we learned the heartbreaking news of the murder of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Almog Sarusi, and Alexander Lobanov. The cries of their grieving families were heard in our homes and echoed in our homes and hearts.
Eleven months ago, most of the world had never heard of Hersh. We didn’t know about his bright, unique spark. Now, we know his favorite recipes and music. We’ve learned about the places he traveled and the destinations he dreamed of visiting. We’ve seen the photos his family shared, offering glimpses into his life, his childhood, and even his bedroom. We felt like we watched him grow up over these painful months. Hersh has become every mother's son.
His family fought tirelessly for his release and for the freedom of the other hostages. The Goldberg-Polin family will forever be a testament to courage. In the face of unimaginable pain, they revealed humanity where there was none. Through their strength, they inspired us to keep praying, to keep fighting, and they gave us hope with their perseverance.
In their greatest moment of pain, the Goldberg-Polin's shared their son Hersh with the world. They could have kept their memories private, savoring them as time ran out. But instead, they opened their hearts and allowed us into their lives.
We will never know what impact Hersh might have had on this world. What kind of father, what kind of husband would he have been? What dreams and accomplishments would have shaped his future? There are too many families, like Hersh's, left to ask these questions for the rest of their lives.
As the Goldberg-Polin’s tears and grief wash over us, let us remind ourselves that there has never been a more urgent time to repair the world in Hersh’s name and in the name of the more than 1,200 other victims murdered by Hamas.
It is not enough to simply say, “May their memory be for a blessing.” We must continue to fight for the release of all hostages and support every effort to ensure that Hamas can never again reign terror upon Israel. This fight is our fight, and this pain will remain with us until justice is done and peace settles permanently over Israel.
As Jon Polin said recently at the DNC, while there was still that glimmer of hope fueling them that their son would finally be released into their arms, he said: “There is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East. In a competition of pain, there are no winners,” he continued. “In our Jewish tradition, we say… Every person is an entire universe. We must save all these universes.”
May the new week bring peace and the return of all hostages.
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