"A personal request to all coalition members from the father of a hostage who was murdered in captivity in Gaza," he wrote in a Facebook post. "Please stop wearing the yellow hostage pin. Every time I see one of you wearing it, it adds to the pain." The request reflects his deep mistrust in the Israeli government and its intentions.

Earlier this month, Polin commented on the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, saying the team negotiating the hostages' release had never received a genuine mandate to push for a breakthrough. "I hope the true story of the failed hostage negotiations will come to light one day," he wrote. "I continue to believe that the government never gave the Israeli negotiating team a broad or serious enough mandate. Some members of the team pushed hard for a broader mandate, but to no avail. Thank you, Ronen Bar, for being one of those who pushed."

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Jewish communities across the United States are remembering Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American-Israeli who became a symbol of the hostages taken by the Hamas terror group on Oct. 7, eJewishPhilanthropy has reported. 

From Richmond, Virginia to Atlanta, Jewish leaders with personal connections to the Goldberg-Polin family spoke to eJewishPhilanthropy on Sunday, recalling memories of happier times and expressing inspiration at the family's persistent fight for their son's release. Goldberg-Polin was abducted from the Nova music festival after losing an arm in a grenade blast.

Rabbi Dovid Asher, who leads Keneseth Beth Israel in Richmond, the Modern Orthodox congregation that the Goldberg-Polins attended before making aliyah in 2008, said, "They have a lot of close friends in the shul and people here are grieving tremendously." Asher pointed to a touching video of a synagogue theater production that Hersh performed in as a child alongside his father on Purim.

In Atlanta, where the family made annual trips to Ramah Darom for Passover retreats, CEO Wally Levitt remembered Hersh's dedication to prayer. "Even when Hersh was young and other kids would be outside playing during davening, Hersh would be sitting next to Jon in their regular spot by the windows in our beit knesset," Levitt told eJewishPhilanthropy.

The Goldberg-Polin family's advocacy turned Hersh into a prominent figure in the hostage crisis. His parents, Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, became some of the most visible international advocates for the release of their son and all kidnapped Israelis. Their efforts included meetings with Pope Francis and President Joe Biden, as well as Rachel's impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention last month.

William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, and Harriet Schleifer, chair of the organization, called Rachel and Jon "models of grace, composure and hope amid this terrible ordeal."

Before becoming the faces of the hostage crisis, the Goldberg-Polins were active contributors to Israeli society. Jon was an early founder of SparkIL, a social lending venture backed by the Jewish Agency that provides interest-free loans to small businesses in Israel. NaAma Ore, CEO of SparkIL, praised Jon's entrepreneurial spirit and the family's dedication.

Goldberg-Polin was buried in Jerusalem on Monday, with thousands attending his funeral to pay their respects. 

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The death of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin has triggered a wave of grief across the United States, The New York Times reported Sunday. Goldberg-Polin, 23, had become a symbol of hope during his nearly year-long captivity following the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre.

"With broken hearts, the Goldberg-Polin family is devastated to announce the death of their beloved son and brother, Hersh," his family said in a statement. The IDF recovered Goldberg-Polin's body from Gaza, along with those of five other captives, who were fatally shot by Hamas at close range.

Hundreds gather in New York in Columbus Circle for a vigil to remember American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg Polin, who was kidnapped October 7 murdered a few days ago by Hamas while in captivity

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— Adam Milstein (@AdamMilstein) September 2, 2024

Born in the Bay Area and raised in Israel from age 8, Goldberg-Polin was remembered fondly by those who knew him. Rabbi Andy Feig of Los Angeles, a childhood friend of Goldberg-Polin's father, told The New York Times, "In Yiddish, you say 'mensch,' meaning a person with integrity. Hersh was that kind of kid." Friends and family described him as passionate about soccer, music, and travel.

Goldberg-Polin was abducted while attending the Nova Music Festival, having lost part of his arm during the attack. In the months following his capture, his parents, Rachel and Jon, emerged as prominent advocates for the hostages' release. Their efforts included meetings with high-profile officials, including the Pope, and addressing the Democratic National Convention.

The impact of Goldberg-Polin's death extended beyond his immediate circle. Susan Gordon Newman, a 52-year-old marketing professional from Chicago, expressed to The New York Times the widespread sentiment, "There was so much hope for almost a year, and now there's no hope."

In Berkeley, Goldberg-Polin's birthplace, graduate student Yael Nidam Kirsht reflected on the family's mantra, "Hope is mandatory." Kirsht, whose own family was affected by the Oct. 7 attacks, shared her heartbreak, "I really hoped that what happened to us wouldn't happen to Hersh."

A vigil in Manhattan on Sunday night drew hundreds of mourners. Orna Neutra, mother of hostage Omer Neutra, spoke of the tight-knit community formed among hostage families. She noted that despite the devastating news, Goldberg-Polin's mother "chose to share words of hope with us, praying that this tragedy stops the madness and brings the deal now."

Seven US citizens remain in captivity, with over 60 living hostages and the remains of about 35 individuals still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

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The parents of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin announced his death early Sunday, just days after their speech at the Democratic National Convention captivated Israelis.

"With broken hearts, the Goldberg-Polin family is devastated to announce the death of their beloved son and brother, Hersh." The Goldberg-Polin family said in a statement. "The family thanks you all for your love and support and asks for privacy at this time."

Late Saturday, the IDF said bodies were announced during operational activity in the Gaza Strip. Israeli-American Hersh was taken from the Nova music festival to the Gaza Strip and lost an arm from a grenade when he was abducted on Oct. 7.

President Joe Biden reacted to the tragic news, saying, "I am devastated and outraged. Hersh was among the innocents brutally attacked while attending a music festival for peace in Israel on October 7. He lost his arm helping friends and strangers during Hamas' savage massacre. He had just turned 23. He planned to travel the world. I have gotten to know his parents, Jon and Rachel. They have been courageous, wise, and steadfast, even as they have endured the unimaginable.

"They have been relentless and irrepressible champions of their son and of all the hostages held in unconscionable conditions. I admire them and grieve with them more deeply than words can express. I know all Americans tonight will have them in their prayers, just as Jill and I will. I have worked tirelessly to bring their beloved Hersh safely to them and am heartbroken by the news of his death. It is as tragic as it is reprehensible.

"Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages," Biden vowed.

Vice President Kamala Harris also released a statement about Goldberg-Polin: "As is said in the Jewish tradition, may Hersh's memory be a blessing. Hamas is an evil terrorist organization. With these murders, Hamas has even more American blood on its hands. I strongly condemn Hamas' continued brutality, and so must the entire world. From its massacre of 1,200 people to sexual violence, taking of hostages, and these murders, Hamas' depravity is evident and horrifying. The threat Hamas poses to the people of Israel – and American citizens in Israel – must be eliminated, and Hamas cannot control Gaza. The Palestinian people, too, have suffered under Hamas' rule for nearly two decades."

So… Kamala let's dispense with the "ceasefire" bullsh*t speeches and how many "innocent" civilians are getting killed… let's stop talking about the never going to happen two state nonsense… and let's all forget how you did your very best to prevent the IDF from going into…

— AniYehudi - ברוך (@AYehudi1948) September 1, 2024

Similarly, Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted, "Hersh Goldberg-Polin is an American hero who will be remembered for his kindness and selflessness. Our hearts break for Jon, Rachel, and their entire family, as well as the other families who found out today their loved ones won't be coming home. May their memory be a blessing.

"The killing of these hostages only further confirms Hamas's depravity. It should release all the hostages immediately. We will continue to work with our partners in the region to secure an agreement without delay that frees the remaining hostages," he wrote.

In a powerful moment at the Democratic National Convention in August, Rachel and Jon Goldberg delivered an emotional plea for the release of all hostages held in Gaza on Wednesday night in Chicago.

Rachel began by painting a vivid picture of the hostages' plight: "And at this moment, 109 treasured human beings are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. They are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. They are from 23 different countries. The youngest hostage is a one-year-old redheaded, baby boy and the oldest is an 86-year-old mustachioed grandad. 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."

Hersh Goldberg-Polin is an American hero who will be remembered for his kindness and selflessness. Our hearts break for Jon, Rachel, and their entire family, as well as the other families who found out today their loved ones won't be coming home. May their memory be a blessing.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 1, 2024

She went on to share personal details about her son, including his love for music, his support for the Hapoel Jerusalem soccer team, and his sense of humor. Rachel recounted the terror attack on the festival-goers, highlighting the heroism of Hersh's friend, Aner Shapira, who threw back grenades hurled by the attackers until he was killed by absorbing the explosives of the eighth grenade and thus saving the others who were hiding with him in an improvised shelter.

Jon emphasized the non-partisan nature of their cause: "This is a political convention, but needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages, home is not a political issue. It is, it is a humanitarian issue, the families, the families of the hostages meet every few weeks in Washington, we're heartened that both Democratic and Republican leaders demonstrate their bipartisan support for our hostages being released.

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