The Times of Israel Daily Briefing Day 729 - Rachel Goldberg-Polin: A deep hope for repair and relief
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Oct 4, 2025 Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of murdered hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin and an advocate for families of hostages, shares her journey through profound grief and mourning. She discusses the challenges of public grief, balancing gratitude with loss, and her evolving spiritual practices. Rachel emphasizes the importance of community and her ongoing advocacy for remaining hostages as a source of purpose. She reflects on the hope for communal repair and personal growth, using vivid metaphors of resilience and renewal amid her pain.
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Morning Rituals Anchor Purpose
- Rachel uses morning prayers and direct dialogue with Hirsch to orient herself toward purpose each day.
- She frames waking as a mandate to act, choosing hope over despair to direct her energy.
Presence Beyond Physical Loss
- Rachel reorients grief by asserting that Hirsch's soul persists and remains present to her.
- That belief lets her thank God for what was and continue relating to him beyond physical presence.
Holding Contradictory Emotions
- Rachel describes juggling contradictory emotions: pain alongside pride and laughter.
- She emphasizes humans can hold both suffering and gratitude simultaneously.
