Rachel Goldberg-Polin on grief after Hamas abducted, killed her son | 60 Minutes

Rachel Goldberg-Polin mourned the loss of her son, Hersh, who was abducted and killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. Hersh and his best friend, Aner Shapira, were attending a music festival near the Gaza border when Hamas launched a surprise attack. The event resulted in the deaths of 378 people and hundreds of injuries. Hersh survived the assault, but was severely injured by a grenade and required extensive medical treatment.

Rachel and her husband, Jon, tirelessly advocated for the release of their son and the other hostages held by Hamas. They appeared on television, spoke with world leaders, and even met the Pope during this difficult time. Rachel wore a piece of tape with the number of days since Hersh and the other hostages were taken, a constant reminder of their desperate situation.

On August 31, 2024, after a year of captivity, Hersh's body was discovered in an underground tunnel in Rafah. He had been executed, along with five other hostages. Hersh was shot six times at close range, and his body was brought back to Israel for a funeral attended by thousands of people, including Rachel and Jon.

In February 2025, a hostage named Or Levy was released by Hamas, along with two other individuals. Or learned that his wife and Hersh had been murdered on October 7, adding to his grief. Or shared a heartwarming story about Hersh's unwavering optimism and sense of purpose, even in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Hersh had been given a mantra from a concentration camp survivor, Viktor Frankl, which he repeated often: "He who has a why can bear any how."

Or had Hersh's mantra tattooed on his arm as a tribute to his son and a reminder of the strength of the human spirit.