That greatness of spirit that was summoned forth by his parents is Hersh’s gift to us all
What horrors had they endured in their last moments? How could they die after a year’s worth of prayers? How will their families cope with the enormity of this tragedy? When all you feel is fearful questions and incoherent emotions, words seem like pitiful, even ridiculous things — a mockery of the shapeless churning inside.
And yet, I feel compelled to say something, because less than three months ago, I sat with Jon and Rachel Goldberg-Polin for an interview that was equal parts harrowing and inspiring. Of all the millions of Jews worldwide who prayed for the captives and kept their families in mind, I had a window into their world that few others did.
Over the course of 90 minutes, you can tell a lot about people — especially when they’re living on the emotional edge. What I witnessed was the unfiltered, raw reality of a couple suddenly handed a stark choice: Sink into the morass of despair, or grasp for greatness. Jon and Rachel chose the latter, and in the process, taught us all a series of lessons that should reverberate across time, and be an illui neshamah for Hersh himself.
The meaning of faith is the first. Rachel Goldberg-Polin was convinced that Hersh was coming home. Given the pitiless nature of Hersh’s captors, that wasn’t a logical thought — it was one borne aloft on the wings of emunah.
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