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Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a moment that deeply resonated with the audience at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the parents of U.S. hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin delivered an emotional plea that brought the entire arena to tears. According to a report that appeared at The New York Post on Wednesday evening, Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son has been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for 320 days, took the stage in Chicago to share their anguish and to urge their son to “stay strong” and “survive.”
As the couple approached the stage, they were met with loud applause and chants of “Bring them home” from the audience, a powerful display of solidarity and support. Both Jonathan and Rachel wore yellow ribbons, a symbol of hope and remembrance, along with tape marked with the number 320—the number of days Hersh has been in captivity, as per the information provided in The Post report. The significance of the moment was palpable, and the emotion in the room was undeniable.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin, overwhelmed with grief, collapsed in tears before beginning her speech. Her husband, Jonathan, stood by her side, offering strength as she gathered herself to speak. The raw emotion of the moment captured the hearts of everyone present, underscoring the immense pain and uncertainty the family has endured.
In her address, Rachel Goldberg-Polin painted a vivid and heart-wrenching picture of the situation. “At this moment, 109 treasured human beings are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza,” she began, as was reported by The Post. “They are Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists. They are from 23 different countries. The youngest hostage is a one-year-old red-headed baby boy… among the hostages are eight American citizens – one of those Americans is our only son.”
Rachel’s words highlighted the broad and indiscriminate nature of the hostage situation, emphasizing the diverse backgrounds of those affected. Her speech was not only a personal plea for her son but also a call for attention to the broader humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin described her son Hersh as a “happy-go-lucky boy” with a deep passion for geography and music festivals. She shared memories of his childhood, painting a picture of a young man full of life and curiosity. The Post report indicated that the mother’s voice broke as she recounted the horrific events of October 7, when Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists launched a brutal attack that changed their lives forever. Hersh’s left arm was “blown off” during the assault, and he was then taken captive, “stolen from his life,” as Rachel described it.
The trauma and pain were evident as Rachel spoke of the daily nightmare she and her husband have lived since their son’s kidnapping, as was described in The Post report. “We have lived on another planet,” she told the audience in Chicago, encapsulating the sense of dislocation and despair that has marked their lives since that fateful day.
Jonathan Polin, Hersh’s father, emphasized that the need to bring home the hostages is not a matter of politics but a fundamental humanitarian issue. “Needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue, it is a humanitarian issue,” he told the attendees at the DNC, as was noted in The Post report. His words were a poignant reminder that, beyond the political complexities of the Middle East conflict, there are human lives hanging in the balance, and the urgency of their situation transcends partisan divides.
Polin also highlighted the unity and bipartisan support the families of American hostages have received in Washington. He expressed his deep gratitude for the efforts made by both Democrats and Republicans, underscoring the importance of cross-party collaboration in addressing such a critical issue. “We are deeply grateful to the Biden-Harris administration for their work towards securing a hostage deal and a ceasefire to end the despair in Gaza,” he said, according to The Post report.
In a profound reflection on the broader implications of the Middle East conflict, Jonathan Polin spoke about the shared suffering on all sides. “There is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East, in a competition of pain there are no winners,” he remarked. The report in The Post pointed out that his words resonated with the audience, emphasizing that the conflict’s toll is felt by countless families, regardless of nationality or religion.
Polin’s message was deeply rooted in Jewish tradition, which values every human life as precious and unique. “In the Jewish tradition, we say that … every person is an entire universe, we must save all of these universes,” he said, drawing on the profound belief that saving a single life is akin to saving an entire world. This sentiment called attention to the universal and timeless nature of their plea, one that appeals to the shared humanity of all people.
The emotional climax of the speech came when Rachel Goldberg-Polin addressed her son directly, her voice filled with both love and anguish. “Hersh, Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you. Stay strong, survive,” she implored, her words carrying the weight of a mother’s desperate hope, The Post report said. The raw emotion in her voice brought many in the audience to tears, as they shared in the pain and desperation of a family yearning for the return of their child.
The Goldberg-Polin family’s appearance at the Democratic National Convention served as a powerful reminder of the human cost of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the urgent need for international action. Their message transcended politics, touching on the fundamental values of compassion, unity, and the sanctity of human life.
