Rachel Goldberg-Polin shared her perspective on her son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, with NBC News. Hersh was an Israeli American whose life journey captured the essence of what it means to be ordinary.
Hersh was taken during the Nova music festival in southern Israel, a tragedy that affected many lives. Despite the circumstances, Rachel emphasized there is a tendency to elevate young people who die tragically, transforming them into mythical figures. However, she viewed Hersh in a grounded light, describing him as her perfect match.
In September 2024, Hersh was among six hostages held by Hamas. Their bodies were sadly found in a tunnel under Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. Hersh’s story began in the U.S., where he was born. At the age of seven, his family relocated to Israel, shaping his identity and experiences.
Rachel described Hersh as possessing a unique blend of beauty and flaws that made him truly human. The acknowledgement of his ordinariness was, in her view, what made him extraordinary.
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