Rachel Goldberg-Polin reflects on fight to bring son Hersh home
The Jerusalem Post • • world
Key Points:
- Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of slain Gaza hostage Hersh, told CBS's 60 Minutes that despite activists' efforts, they largely failed to bring all hostages home alive, expressing deep grief and a changed understanding of loss as a continuing badge of love.
- Former Gaza hostage Or Levy, who spent three days with Hersh, recalled Hersh's resilience and his repeated mantra, "He who has a why can bear any how," highlighting Hersh's motivation to survive as his mother.
- Goldberg-Polin shared that Hersh was proud she spoke with the US Secretary of State and that he heard her voice on the news, providing a small comfort amid the tragedy.
- Hersh was killed on October 7, the same day he sent his last messages to his mother, and his body was found alongside five other hostages; Goldberg-Polin had visited Gaza's outskirts nearly a year later to call out his name.
- The interview explored themes of grief, survival, and the enduring impact of love, with Goldberg-Polin striving to find her own "why" to bear the loss of her son.
