Parents of slain US-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Rachel and Jon, underscored the complex emotional challenge the nation is undergoing as Israel braces to receive the 48 living and deceased hostages who have been held in Hamas captivity since the October 7 attacks in 2023.
They spoke at the Jerusalem Hostage Square on Saturday evening to the crowd, following Israel's agreement to US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire deal with Hamas last week.
Their son, Goldberg-Polin, was murdered by the terror group in a tunnel after being held captive for 328 days, enduring horrific conditions, including torture and starvation. His remains were then returned to Israel by the IDF, after being found among five additional slain Israeli hostages.
“What is happening to all of us, our nation right now, is so deeply complex that our knees are buckling,” Rachel told the crowd, regarding the hostage deal.
How do we do this?
She said that she had received various messages from the families of the hostages, whose family members are set to return, “All were asking a variation of ‘how do we do this?’”
“They know Jon and I know what it’s like to get your child returned in a bag,” she added.
Rachel then quoted from the book of Kohelet in the Bible, which is read during the ongoing Jewish holiday of Sukkot. She explained how the book has special resonance with the emotions the country is feeling at these times.
“We are told in chapter three there is a season for everything and a time for everything, but now, we are being asked to digest all of those seasons, all of those times, at the exact same second - winter, spring, summer, fall - experience all four right now.”
“It says there is a time to be born and a time to die, and we have to do both right now. It says there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, and we have to do both right now. It says there is a time to tear and to heal, and we have to do both right now,” she said.
“And it says there is a time to sob, and there is a time to dance, and we have to do both right now,” she continued, pausing as she and those in the crowd began to tear up.
“I know that country, the nation, Jews all over the world are starving to celebrate and be done with this dark chapter.”
“Being miserable and in pain is tiring, believe me, I know. But we are not done yet - until they are all home,” Rachel emphasized.
“We are all elated and relieved for the families, who will, please, please, please, finally get their children and loved ones back alive. It is what everyone has worked and prayed for these 736 torturous and inexplicable days. And at the exact time, we embrace with tenderness the families of children and loved ones who we pray will come back to be buried.”
“How do we hold these paradoxical and yet appropriate sensations at the same time? Please, dear God, let us do it with delicate tenderness and holiness toward each other,” she told the crowd.
“May we merit to see 48 of our cherished hostages return in the blink of an eye,” Rachel said.
“May the joy of our people shower compassion and grace upon those not getting the ending for which everyone had hoped and prayed. And may the suffering among our people feel comforted and held by those who are feeling joy,” she said, remarking on the duality of emotions felt amid the hostage release.
The international impact
Jon spoke on the impact of the many protests, rallies, and continuous work done throughout the past two years to return the hostages from captivity.
“You brought this deal to happen,” he told the crowd.
Jon and Rachel have engaged in the battle to return the hostages since the October 7 Hamas attacks, speaking in front of international audiences, attending rallies, speaking at the UN, and meeting with various world leaders.