Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American man held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, shared a heart-wrenching message on Mother’s Day. Hersh has been held captive for 219 days after being abducted from the Nova music festival in October 2023.
In a video posted online, Rachel read a letter she had written to Hersh on the eve of his third birthday. She expressed her immense love for her son, recalling how she would watch him sleep, gently touching his long, soft, curly hair. Rachel spoke of the bittersweet realization that as a parent, her ultimate goal is to help her child become confident and independent, but that also means he will eventually need her less.
With tears in her eyes, Rachel shared her fears and hopes for Hersh’s future. She wished for him to experience love, happiness, kindness, and success, but above all, she wished for him to have a child like himself, who would bring him the same light and joy that he had brought to her.
Rachel concluded the video by thanking Hersh for making her a mother and urging him to stay strong and survive. Last month, Hamas released a propaganda video of Hersh, where he was seen criticizing the Israeli government. However, Rachel’s message focused on the deep love and bond between a mother and her son, transcending the political complexities of the situation.
