Rachel Goldberg-Polin shared that writing a book was never a part of her plan. However, it quickly became an outlet to release emotions that had been stuck.
“I was choking,” she said. “My knees were buckling under the severe suffering of losing Hersh”.
The Minneapolis Jewish Federation hosted Goldberg-Polin, mother of former hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who spoke at Beth El Synagogue on July 27.
Goldberg-Polin spent the evening reflecting on the murder of her son, who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, and later killed in captivity. She challenged the audience to consider how one responds to grief through stories and conversations from her book When We See You Again.
Goldberg-Polin explained that for 330 days between Hersh’s kidnapping and death, she and her family had to suppress their fear to advocate for the hostages.
When talking about writing, she said: “It didn’t make it better. It just made it out.”
One of the most memorable discussions was focused on the idea of achieving peace. Goldberg-Polin mentioned Israeli peace activist Oded Lifshitz, who was also taken hostage and later killed. She argued that fighting for peace is still worthwhile, even if it doesn’t guarantee safety.
“Our job is to chase after [peace],” said Goldberg-Polin while citing Psalm 34. “It doesn’t say to achieve it.”
Goldberg-Polin also connected the story of peace activist A.J. Muste, who was known for his presence outside the White House holding anti-Vietnam War signs, to that of Chaim Peri, a peace activist from Kibbutz Nir Oz who was taken hostage and murdered in captivity. Interviewer Amy Zaroff talked about a photo that emerged of Peri holding a sign on a street corner near the Nova Music Festival site that said “Better to have pains of peace than aches of war,” while Muste held his protest signs in the 1960s not because he thought they would change the world, but so “the world doesn’t change me.”
“That’s what we need to do,” said Goldberg-Polin. “We do not let the world change us.”
Hersh’s presence and legacy remained prevalent throughout the entire discussion. Goldberg-Polin reflected on her son’s kindness, referencing one small gesture that truly captured his character.
“He always carried my bag,” said Goldberg-Polin. “There are moments where someone does something and that’s it. That’s who they are.”
She also described an ominous discovery in Hersh’s journal following his death. Eleven times in a 2015 journal entry he referenced the word “tunnel” as a metaphor for difficult times in life.
“Go through the tunnel with all your might,” wrote Hersh. The last line read, “What is for sure is that I will get out of the tunnel.”
Nine years later, Hersh was killed in a tunnel while being held captive by Hamas.
Goldberg-Polin shared that following his release, former hostage Or Levy requested to meet with Hersh’s family. He shared that in captivity Hersh quoted Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning to fellow hostages.
“He who has a why can bear almost any how,” was the line Hersh consistently repeated.
Goldberg-Polin also learned from Levy that Hersh had heard her voice on the radio, where she and her husband were fighting for the safe return of the hostages.
“Knowing that he knew we were running to the ends of the earth for him was such a relief,” she said. “He heard my voice.”
When asked about grief, Goldberg-Polin shared that grief is evidence that love continues after someone is gone.
“I actually really embrace that grief,” she said. “What it says to me is that my love for Hersh is ever evolving and eternally present.”
Goldberg-Polin concluded the evening by saying, “The world is a mess. But that doesn’t give you, or me, or any of us, a pass in trying to make it a little less of a mess.”
Rachel Goldberg-Polin is a courageous, deep-hearted human being, as was her son. I appreciate her understanding of grief. And wish her and her family all of the strengths.
I attended this event at Beth El. It was very moving and Powerful. Rachel is a very engaging speaker and Amy did a great job asking questions.