Rachel Goldberg-Polin (Hebrew: רייצ׳ל גולדברג-פולין; born 1969 or 1970) is an American-Israeli activist, primarily focused on resolving the hostage crisis which began with the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. She began her activism after her son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was abducted by Hamas while attending the Re’im Music Festival. Hersh was confirmed dead in August 2024, and his body was recovered from Gaza on 31 August.[1]
Rachel Goldberg-Polin | |
|---|---|
רייצ׳ל גולדברג-פולין | |
 Goldberg-Polin: the number taped to her shirt refers to the number of days her son was being held hostage, dating the photo to November 27, 2023. | |
| Born | Rachel Goldberg 1969 (age 54–55) or 1970 (age 53–54) |
| Citizenship |
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| Alma mater | Brandeis University |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Known for | Israel–Hamas war hostage crisis activism |
| Spouse | Jonathan Polin |
| Children | 3, including Hersh |
Activism
editGoldberg-Polin's son, Hersh, was kidnapped and abducted to the Gaza Strip during the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.[2] Following her son's abduction, she quit her job[3] to focus full-time on working towards freeing the hostages, and has since spoken to both political authorities and media organizations, including the BBC,[4] CBS,[5] NBC,[6] and The Wall Street Journal.[7] Specifically, she has called for the Israeli government to negotiate a hostage deal and has criticized leaders for "not doing enough" to bring the hostages home.[8][9] In daily life, she attempted to draw attention to the hostage crisis by putting tape on her clothing, on which she wrote the number of days since October 7.[10][3]
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On November 14, 2023, she attended the March for Israel rally in Washington, D.C., where she spoke about the plight of the 240 hostages.[11] In December 2023, she gave a seven-minute speech at the United Nations in Geneva.[12]
In February 2024, Goldberg-Polin and 11 other hostage families met with the Pope.[13] In early April 2024, Goldberg-Polin, her husband, and other family members of hostages met with United States Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan, to urge action on a hostage deal.[14] In August 2024, she and her husband spoke at the Democratic National Convention, again to urge action on a hostage deal. She received a standing ovation during her speech, during which the audience chanted "bring him home".[1] On 30 August, she joined a protest rally on the Gaza border, during which she broadcast her voice with messages for her son.[15]
Following the announcement of Hersh's death on 31 August, United States President Joe Biden spoke with Rachel and her husband.[16][17]
During Rachel's eulogy on 2 September, Rachel stated that:
I also pray that your death will be a turning point in this horrible situation in which we are all entangled. I take such comfort knowing you were with Carmel, Ori, Eden, Almog and Alex. From what I have been told, they each were delightful in different ways, and I think that is how the 6 of you managed to stay alive in unimaginable circumstances for so very long. You each did every single thing right to survive 329 days in what I can only call Hell.
I send each of the families my deepest sympathies for what we are all going through and for the sickening feeling that we all could not save them. I think we all did every single thing we could. The hope that perhaps a deal was near, was so authentic it was crunchy. It tasted CLOSE. But it was not to be so. Those beautiful 6 survived together and those beautiful 6 died together. And now they will be remembered together forever.
— Rachel Goldberg Polin, The full text of Rachel Goldberg-Polin’s eulogy for her son Hersh, at his funeral in Jerusalem, September 2, 2024., https://www.timesofisrael.com/my-sweet-boy-hersh-we-tried-so-desperately-to-save-you/
Personal life
editRachel Goldberg was raised in Chicago[2] and graduated from Brandeis University in 1992.[18]
Goldberg-Polin, her husband, Jonathan, and their three children moved to Israel in the early 2000s.[10][3] They have lived in Jerusalem since 2008.[2] She is an observant Jew who keeps kosher.[2][13]
References
edit- ^ a b Gan, Nectar (2024-09-01). "Hersh Goldberg-Polin: The 'happy-go-lucky' Israeli American who became a symbol of Israel's enduring hostage heartbreak". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ a b c d e Vick, Karl (2024-04-18). "Counting the Days Since Oct. 7 With Rachel Goldberg-Polin". TIME. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b c "'He will come back' - Israeli hostage families cling to hope, and demand a deal". BBC News. 2024-03-17. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "'Hope is mandatory': Hostage's mother believes her son will return". BBC News. 2024-03-16. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "Transcript: Rachel Goldberg-Polin on "Face the Nation," April 7, 2024". CBS News. 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "Her son was last seen badly hurt, being loaded into a Hamas truck: One mother details her 6-month agony". NBC News. 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ Bernstein, Elizabeth. "'Stay Strong. Survive.' The Mother Who Became the Face of Hostage Advocacy". WSJ. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "Hostage mother calls on Diaspora Jews to pressure Israel for hostage deal". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-03-20. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ Czachor, Emily Mae (2024-04-07). ""All the parties at the table have failed" to free those held by Hamas, mother of hostage says". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b Kirka, Danica (2024-01-13). "Families of Hamas hostages mark loved ones' 100th day in captivity". AP News. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "Tens of Thousands of Supporters of Israel Rally in Washington, Crying 'Never Again'". usnews.com. 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2024-08-15.
- ^ "'One Tiny Seed' — A hostage's mother penned a poem for 'a woman in Gaza'". The Forward. 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b Sudilovsky, Judith (2024-02-07). "Mother of Israeli hostage says pope gave her 'permission to not lose faith in humanity'". Detroit Catholic. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "'No choice but to stay hopeful,' father of US hostage says after meeting with vice president". Jewish News Syndicate. 2024-04-10. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ Fruchter, Sruli (2024-09-01). "Thanks to his mother, we are all sitting shiva for Hersh Goldberg-Polin". The Forward. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ "Biden spoke with Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin after Hersh's death announced". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-09-01.
- ^ Magid, Jacob (2024-09-01). "Biden speaks with parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin to offer condolences". The Times of Israel.
- ^ "Time Magazine Honors Israeli-Hostage Advocate". www.brandeis.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-01.