Each morning, Rachel Goldberg-Polin told herself: “Hope is mandatory.”
By Shula Rosen
In an emotional interview on CBS News’ 60 Minutes, aired Sunday night, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the American-Israeli mother of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, said she and her husband, Jon Polin, spent 330 days awaiting the release of their son and the other hostages after Hamas abducted him on October 7, 2023, from the Nova Music Festival near the Gaza border.
Speaking from Jerusalem, Goldberg-Polin described Hersh as a young man on the verge of adulthood who had returned shortly before the attack from a nine-week trip to Europe and was preparing for a yearlong journey set to begin December 27.
She said the family spent Friday night, October 6, together before he left after dinner, telling them, “I love you, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The next morning, after sirens began, she found two messages from Hersh. “The first one said, ‘I love you,’ and the second one said, ‘I’m sorry.’”
Goldberg-Polin said Hersh and his best friend were among 29 people hiding in a bomb shelter when Hamas terrorists attacked.
Grenades and gunfire were directed into the shelter, and Hersh’s arm was blown off when a grenade exploded, she explained. Four wounded young men were then taken to Gaza on a pickup truck, she added.
She said the family later received evidence that Hersh had been alive in captivity, including a Hamas video released on the 201st day and information from released hostage Or Levy, who spent three days with Hersh in a tunnel.
Proof that Hersh was alive gave the family strength to continue their efforts on his behalf, and she kept repeating to herself: “I love you. Stay strong. Survive.”
Each morning, she continued, she reminded herself: “Hope is mandatory.”
Hersh was executed after 328 days in captivity. Goldberg-Polin said he was killed at close range in a tunnel under Rafah and had six bullet wounds.
Recalling the funeral, she said she told her son, “Finally, finally, finally, you’re free.”
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