Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American, was among six hostages killed by Hamas in Gaza, a tragic conclusion to nearly 11 months of captivity following his abduction during the October 7 attacks at the Nova music festival in Israel.
Goldberg-Polin, originally from Berkeley, California, lost part of his left arm during the attack when a grenade exploded, but was taken alive into Gaza. His death, announced by the Israeli military, has struck a deep chord across Jewish communities in the United States and Israel.
Goldberg-Polin and his family had longstanding ties to Jewish communities, including Atlanta, where they regularly participated in Passover retreats at Ramah Darom, a Jewish camp and retreat center in Georgia known for its strong community and cultural programs. Hersh’s death has been particularly devastating for the Ramah Darom community, where he was fondly remembered as a counselor and participant. The camp and retreat center, located in Clayton, serves as a significant gathering place for Jewish families, especially during Passover, and has now become a focal point for mourning and remembrance.
In a social media post, Ramah Darom had the following to say about Hersh and his legacy:
TOO MANY ADS? GO AD-FREE
Did You Know?: The ads you see on this site help pay for our website and our work. However, we know some of our readers would rather pay and not see ads. For those users we offer a paid newsletter that contains our articles with no ads.
What You Get: A daily email digest of our articles in full-text with no ads.
“There are no words to express the heartbreak we are all feeling. Hersh, his parents Jon and Rachel, his sisters and many members of his extended family were longtime Ramah Darom Passover participants. The hope we were holding onto, the raw emotion and the tireless persistence of Rachel and Jon to keep Hersh and the hostages top of mind, make this news even more gut wrenching. We grieve along with the entire Goldberg-Polin family.
“May Hersh’s memory forever be a blessing, and may his family know no more sorrow. Baruch Dayan Ha’emet.”
The circumstances surrounding his death are as harrowing as they are heartbreaking. According to Israeli military sources, Goldberg-Polin and five others were found in tunnels under Rafah, Gaza, where they were killed just before a planned rescue operation. Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, Hersh’s parents, tirelessly advocated for his release, even speaking at the Democratic National Convention to raise awareness.
The response to Goldberg-Polin’s death has been widespread. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris expressed deep sorrow and condemnation of Hamas, with Biden vowing that those responsible would be held accountable.
