Rachel Goldberg-Polin: Learning how to live after the murder of her son
When Hamas abducted her son Hersh, Rachel Goldberg-Polin became the face of the hostage crisis in Israel. Since his murder, she says she has learned that the constant pain of grief is a "badge of love."
Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a hostage tragically killed on October 7, 2023, spoke at the United Nations on Friday to represent victims of terrorism in honor of International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. Rachel began her remarks, "My name is Rachel, and I will always be the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin."
Her son lost his arm during the kidnapping and was executed shortly afterward. She recounted his nine-month captivity and the final moments of his life, saying, "My son was executed at close range and returned to me after 330 days." Rachel's speech highlighted the common threads of hope, life, and love among victims of war, quoting Sigmund Freud's observation that both sides of conflicts have destructive tendencies, despite their claims to represent different causes.
She concluded with a prayer for humanity to rise above its natural inclinations towards war and violence, urging the international community to recognize and support the victims of terrorism, including Israeli victims of the October 7 massacre.
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