We are posting the transcript of the speech by Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, jointly delivered at the Democratic National Convention on August 21. It is followed by the video recording, which reveals the supportive emotional reaction of the audience. It began with Rachel Goldberg-Polin speaking of the hostages and what happened to their son:
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 grandpa.
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, California. Hersh is a happy go lucky, laid back, good-humored, respectful, and curious person.
He is a civilian. He loves soccer, is wild about music and music festivals. And he has been obsessed with geography and travel since he was a little boy. His bedroom overflows with atlases, globes, maps, and National Geographic magazines.
On October 7th, Hersh and his best friend Oner, went to a music festival in the south of Israel. It was advertised as celebrating peace, love and unity. They also went to celebrate Hersh’s 23rd birthday.
As rockets began to fall, Hersh honor, and 27 other young festival goers took refuge in a five-foot by eight-foot bomb shelter. Terrorists began to throw grenades into the shelter. Oner stood in the doorway and repelled seven of those grenades before the eighth one killed him. Altogether at the Nova Music Festival, 367 young music lovers were killed.
This was just one of the many attacks on neighborhoods and communities in southern Israel on that terrible day. In total, 1200 were killed, Including 45 Americans. Hersh’s left forearm, his dominant arm, was blown off, before he was loaded onto a pickup truck and stolen from his life, and me and Jon, Into Gaza. And that was 320 days ago.
Since then, we live on another planet. Anyone who is a parent, or has had a parent, can try to imagine the anguish and misery that Jon and I, and all the hostage families, are enduring.
Jon Polin:
Rachel and I are comforted to be back in our sweet home, Chicago. We were both born and raised here, and our families still live here.
This is a political convention. But needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue.
The families of the American eight 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.
We’ve met with President Biden and Vice President Harris numerous times at the White House. They’re both working tirelessly for a hostage and ceasefire deal that will bring our precious children, mothers fathers, grandparents, and grandchildren home. And we’ll stop the despair in Gaza.
We are all deeply grateful to them. We’re also profoundly thankful to you, the millions of people in the United States and all over the world who have been sending love, support, and strength to the hostage families. You’ve kept us breathing in a world without air.
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.
In our Jewish tradition we say . . . “Every person is an entire universe.” We must save all these universes.
In an inflamed Middle East, we know the one thing that can most immediately release pressure and bring calm to the entire region: a deal that brings this diverse group of 109 hostages home and ends the suffering of the innocent civilians in Gaza. The time is now.
Rachel G-P: Hersh, Hersh, if you can hear us: We love you. Stay strong. Survive.
JP: Bring them home.
Update, September 2024:
Since the Democratic Convention in August, we have learned that Hersh Polin Goldberg was murdered by Hamas, along with five other Israeli hostages. Please click here for the YouTube video of Hersh’s funeral, which was held in Israel; the speeches begin with Pres. Herzog at about the 19-minute point.