Slain Israeli Hostage's Mom Pens a Searing Account of Grief
Newser • • world
Key Points:
- Rachel Goldberg-Polin's book, "When We See You Again," offers a raw and unfiltered account of her grief following the abduction and death of her son Hersh in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, without a clear narrative arc or resolution.
- Hersh was one of 251 people abducted by Hamas, suffering severe injuries before being taken into Gaza, and was killed more than a year before a ceasefire was reached in October 2024.
- Hersh has become a symbol of service and sacrifice in Israel, with his image and name widely displayed, though Goldberg-Polin remains uncertain about how to interpret his legacy.
- The book focuses on the emotional toll of the ordeal, describing "hundreds of sodden days dripping with anguish" and the family's desperate search for information and fight for the hostages' release.
- Despite the profound pain, Goldberg-Polin emphasizes the enduring necessity of hope and commits to carrying her son's legacy and "why" as a source of purpose moving forward.
