An American-Israeli hostage's mother reveals how her faith helps her cope with the pain during the darkest moments.

In October 2023, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, and his childhood friend, Staff Sgt. Aner Shapira, 22, along with 29 other young people, took refuge in a small roadside bomb shelter during a Hamas terrorist attack on the Supernova music festival in southern Israel.

From motorized paragliders, armed terrorists descended upon the Negev desert at dawn, as rockets went off.

On that day in Israel, 1,200 people were killed, including 367 of the 3,000 attendees at the festival, by those who raped women.

Rachel Goldberg, Goldberg-Polin's mother, received two text messages from her son that morning, one saying "I love you" and the other expressing his apologies.

Recently, in a phone interview with Planet Chronicle Digital, Goldberg stated, "He was just beginning his life. We hope and pray that he returns home safely."

Through the toughest moments, she has remained steadfast in her beliefs, as she shared in a heartfelt interview.

‘A different universe'

Goldberg and her husband, both born and raised in Chicago, reside in Israel with their three children. Their son Hersh was born in California and the family relocated to Israel when he was nearly eight years old.

Goldberg recounted that she had seen her son in Jerusalem the night before the act of terrorism, at a Shabbat dinner after synagogue.

"At approximately 11 p.m., he kissed me and my husband and said, "Love you guys. See you tomorrow.""

Four survivors who were trapped beneath dead bodies in the same bomb shelter as her son revealed the grim details of what happened to her son and his friend to her.

Gunfire erupted in the shelter, resulting in the murder of 18 people.

The pickup truck outside was ordered to take Hersh Goldberg-Polin and two other wounded young men, who were armed with machine guns, into it.

"He was not screaming. He was obviously in shock."

Survivors reported seeing that Goldberg-Polin's left arm was missing from the elbow down when he stood up.

Video footage of their son getting into a truck was later seen by Rachel Goldberg and her husband, Jon Polin, at the festival.

Goldberg stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that the individual was not screaming, but rather appeared to be in shock. It was evident that his arm had been blown off, as seen in the bandage he had tied with a T-shirt. He managed to get onto the truck on his own and, when turning to sit down, the stump where his arm used to be was visible.

Since we've been living in a different universe.

She stated that the last cellphone signal from her son's phone was at 10:25 a.m. on that Saturday.

‘Hope is mandatory’

Over 240 individuals, including 45 taken from a music festival, were abducted by Hamas, among them is Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

Over 130 hostages, including a one-year-old baby, are still being held in Gaza.

"God has faith in us, and gives us another chance to have another day to do meaning in our lives."

Hope is necessary when you believe, she stated.

She recites the Modeh Ani prayer upon waking to express her gratitude to God, she said to Planet Chronicle Digital.

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"God has faith in us and gives us another chance to create meaning in our lives," she added.

Reading psalms throughout the day strengthens her, as the devoted mom stated.

"I think of Psalms as a self-help book, because you can pick whichever one speaks to you in that moment."

She considers Psalms a self-help book because she chooses any verse that resonates with her at that specific time.

"The psalms express various emotions, such as praise and despair, with some declaring, 'Hallelujah, you're amazing,' while others lament, 'I'm at the bottom of a pit. Where are you? Why are you hiding your face from me? Help me, help me!'"

Even though she's facing fearsome situations, she finds comfort in knowing that God is with her, as Psalm 23 reminds her.

She summarized Psalm 121 as "I'm calling out to you from the depths."

Since Oct. 7, she has been reading a psalm daily that corresponds with the number of days her son has been held captive.

‘Don’t need two arms to travel'

Rachel Goldberg's voice was filled with both joy and sadness as she discussed her son on Planet Chronicle Digital.

She characterized his sense of humor as "sarcastic yet considerate," and stated that he consistently followed the principle of treating his parents with respect.

She stated that he is an avid reader who enjoys music, playing soccer, and camping.

He has been involved in Hapoel Jerusalem, an organization that promotes youth coexistence through activities such as soccer games involving Jewish and Arab children, since the age of 15.

She agreed to upgrade her son's National Geographic Kids subscription to the regular National Geographic when he was in first grade.

Last summer, he spent nine weeks traveling to six European countries alone, attending music festivals and meeting people from diverse backgrounds.

His mother said that he had planned to travel for another year when he was abducted.

Freeing the captives is the most important mitzvah (commandment), according to Jewish tradition, said Goldberg.

She stated that she hopes he will receive the necessary assistance, obtain the new limb he requires, and embark on the global journey, as it is not necessary to have two arms for travel.

According to Jewish tradition, Goldberg considers the hostage situation in Gaza a global humanitarian crisis and believes that liberating the captives is the most crucial mitzvah.

Even though it may be frightening to take action, there comes a time in everyone's life when they must summon courage and take a stand. During a crisis, one's true character is revealed, and it is in these moments that one's bravery will be remembered.

The couple conceived a plan to promote an educational campaign that supports the rights of hostages in Gaza and highlights the importance of freedom for all innocent individuals worldwide.

'Everyone Counts'

The Jewish educational organizations M²: The Institute for Experiential Jewish Education, Kol HaOt, and The Jewish Education Project collaborated to launch the website Everyone Counts on January 14, 2024, which commemorated the 100th day of captivity for the hostages.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day was the day after the site launched, and the Everyone Counts site showcased his quotes advocating for Israel, democracy, freedom, and peace, which people could share publicly.

The "The Abducted Hearts" exhibit in Ness Ziona, Israel, displays life-size black iron silhouettes of hostages with empty hearts cut out, depicting the emotional toll of their captivity.

The Everyone Counts site connects to other sites, including Listen to Moms, which supports mothers from 25 countries in advocating for the release of infants and children abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7.

The website provides easy instructions, including contacting members of Congress and wearing a yellow ribbon, to show support for the release of hostages.

The symbol displayed in public indicates that the families of hostages have not been neglected.

The site notes that every act of advocacy can be dedicated to a specific hostage.

No'a Gorlin, COO at M², emphasized that "Everyone Counts" is a deeply personal and individualized approach to understanding people. According to Gorlin, each person is a unique story and world, and it's crucial to recognize the importance of their lives.

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