Photo credit: #BringThemHomeNow
Last night, I went to the Goldberg-Polin shiva to pay my respects to Jon and Rachel, whose 23-year-old son Hersh was viciously murdered (shot in the shoulder, neck and back of the head) by Hamas terrorists after miraculously surviving more than 300+ days in brutal captivity in Hamas’s hellish terror tunnels, situated under the whole of Gaza, and specifically laced throughout the entire civilian infrastructure.
Note: this terror network, the size of the NYC subway system, was funded by the billions of dollars in donations contributed over 17 years by foreign donors to aid the Gazan civilian population. The Gazan leadership, aka Hamas (Iran’s local proxy), which took over in 2007, could have built another Dubai. Instead, not interested in a two-state solution, they built an underground torture city and an extensive, miles deep and long, war apparatus intended to destroy Israel.
Until last night, I hadn’t met the Goldberg-Polins in person, but, like millions worldwide, knew their story from the very high-profile #BringThemHome and #BringHershHome public relations campaigns of the last 11 months.
I also know their story from one of my best friends, whose daughter had driven and gone to the Nova Music and Peace Festival with Hersh and two other friends. When the infamous, October 7th Hamas attack on Israel began, including massive rocket fire, these four young people, along with 23 others, sought safety in a bomb shelter near the festival. As of this writing, 7 have come home, three remain hostage and 17 were tragically murdered – either shot or blown apart by grenades, one which blew off Hersh’s forearm and hand, before he was violently taken hostage.
My friend’s daughter is the sole survivor of the four in her car and one of the handful of survivors from the bomb shelter. Click here to see the story.
Please join me in sending my friend’s beautiful daughter tons of healing energy, love and peace.
I went with this best friend to the Goldberg-Polin shiva. She had already been there twice but agreed to go with me anyway. That’s the wonderful and kind person that she is. She knew I’d need help with directions and parking. She made the journey seamless.
I didn’t know the Goldberg-Polins personally. I am not one for dense public crowds. I HATE long lines. And shivas and funerals are very hard for me, especially after the last year or so of personal losses.
Like everyone else in Israel, the Jewish community and the supporters of the hostage families, I was shocked and crushed to wake up to the devasting news in late August of the murder of six of the hostages: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, and Almog Sarusi. May they all rest in peace and their families be comforted.
I felt compelled, however, to deliver condolences in person to Rachel and Jon. Let’s just say it was a gut feeling to show up for this one.
My friend and I arrived early so that we could get a good place in what would ultimately be the same, nearly 2-hour line, that had also formed the previous 6 days of the shiva. Luckily, we were in the first set of ten or so in the long queue that weaved back and forth under the big tent and around the back.
The Jerusalem night was kind, not too hot, not too cold. There were coffee and pastries and offers of water for anyone interested.
I had watched daily how unbelievably patient and kind Rachel and Jon were with the thousands who had come to pay respects. I saw this both on social media and then with my own eyes on day 7, the last night of the shiva.
Rachel and Jon had to have been utterly exhausted from this seemingly unending parade of people and ready for some quiet and a change of scenery. And yet, at the designated time, they assumed their spot at the head of the line, ready to accept that evening’s condolences.
The ushers told us we had one minute with the family and to think about what we wanted to say in advance.
Good question. What were the perfect words to say to this herculean strong family, which had done everything right and had left no stone unturned to save their handsome, bright and witty son? What would you say?
As we considered the perfect words to share with Rachel and Jon, a lovely woman standing in front of us in line turned and asked if we were from the US, having noticed us talking in English. Well, my friend is from Canada and I’m from the US.
Having noticed the lovely woman and her colleague live streaming on Instagram, we asked if they were influencers.
Indeed yes, AND, they were on a very important, 48-hour, solidarity mission to deliver, I believe, 75 condolence letters to the Goldberg-Polins from prominent American Jewish authors and celebrities including award-winning actress Julianna Margulies and NYT bestselling author Lisa Barr. Turns out, this lovely lady is a celebrity herself – actress, author, influencer and mother of two, Jenny Mollen.
She and her assistant Caroline were up next.
With her golden heart and a healthy-sized packet of letters in hand, she delivered a beautiful, heartfelt message on behalf of her fellow moms from across the ocean. She posted this experience along with her “special words” on IG. Click here to see the post.
Our turn then arrived. We were invited to take our places in the chairs in front of Rachel and Jon, ushers on both sides of us, keeping time, and the growing line moving forward.
One minute.
With a slight smile, Rachel gently teased my friend, noting she was back for yet “another” condolence call. I said it was because of me, that we’ve been friends for decades, and she had agreed to come with me. My friend explained my need for assistance with directions and parking.
With grace and poise, Rachel took my hand and looked straight into my eyes, with warmth and attentiveness.
It took all my energy to hold back my tears, heart-broken for them – and for all of those who have lost someone in this war that no-one asked for.
Though I am in global public relations and choosing the perfect words is part of my profession, 30 years of experience wasn’t any help. When I opened my mouth, the words came from my heart, and not from my head.
I told Rachel and Jon I have been with them since day 1, 100%. That they have been so strong and that I wanted to add to their strength. Rachel replied, “We need it.”
My friend reminded them that they are not alone and that we are here for them. I echoed the sentiment.
Then our time was up.
Though our words weren’t novel, they were genuine, as was the sheer emotion in our eyes and hearts.
Rachel and Jon, if you are reading this: I am so very sorry for your enormous loss and indescribable pain. I saw it in your eyes last night. Please know that you did everything right and that you are not alone.
We will continue to pray for your family, for your continued strength, for your sweet boy Hersh to RIP (Baruch Dayan Ha-emet and in Jon’s eulogy words – may Hersh’s memory be a revolution), for the safe release of the remaining hostages, for the safety and success of the IDF (where many of our kids and family members are serving to free the hostages and prevent a future October 7th), and for the families of all faiths, who have lost loved ones in this war that, again, we didn’t ask for. No matter the politics, may good triumph over evil.
And of course, Rachel and Jon, whatever you need, just call our names, and we’ll be there.
Peace, love and light,
Marjie Hadad