Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was abducted by Hamas and taken to Gaza on October 7, spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night.
The audience chanted “bring them home” as Hersh’s parents took the stage, causing Hersh’s mother to become emotional.
“At this moment, 109 precious human lives are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. They include Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. They come from 23 different countries. The youngest hostage is a one-year-old redheaded baby boy, and the oldest is an 86-year-old grandpa. Among the hostages are eight American citizens. One of those Americans is our only son. His name is Hersh. He’s 23 years old, and like Vice President Kamala Harris, Hersh was born in Oakland, California,” Rachel Goldberg-Polin began.
She portrayed Hersh as a “happy-go-lucky, laid back, good-humored, respectful, and curious individual,” describing him as a civilian with a passion for music and a lifelong fascination with geography and travel.
“On October 7, Hersh and his best friend Aner [Shapira] attended a music festival in southern Israel. The event was promoted as a celebration of peace, love, and unity. They were also there to celebrate Hersh’s 23rd birthday,” she continued.
She recounted how Hersh, Aner, and 27 others sought refuge in a bomb shelter when rockets began to fall on the festival.
“Terrorists began hurling grenades into the shelter. Aner stood in the doorway and managed to block seven of those grenades before the eighth one killed him. In total, 367 young music enthusiasts lost their lives at the Nova Music Festival. This was just one of many attacks on neighborhoods and communities in southern Israel on that tragic day. Altogether, 1,200 people were killed, including 45 Americans. Hersh’s left forearm, his dominant arm, was blown off before he was forced onto a pickup truck and taken away from his life, and from Jon and me, into Gaza. That was 320 days ago. Anyone…can try to imagine the torment and suffering that Jon, I, and all the hostage families are going through.”
Jon Polin then spoke, saying, “This is a political convention, but the need to bring home our only son and all the beloved hostages is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue.”
He emphasized that the families of the eight American hostages “are encouraged by the bipartisan support shown by both Democratic and Republican leaders for the release of our hostages” and mentioned that both President Biden and Vice President Harris are “working tirelessly for a hostage and ceasefire deal that will bring our precious children, mothers, fathers, spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren home and will end the suffering in Gaza.”
“In our Jewish tradition, we say that ‘every person is an entire universe.’ We must save all these universes,” Jon Polin added, stressing that now is the time to reach an agreement.
Rachel concluded by addressing her son directly, saying, “Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you. Stay strong. Survive.”
{Matzav.com}