“If you have the why, you’ll find the how” – parents of a murdered hostage share their journey of loss and advocacy

A packed audience at Sydney’s International Convention Centre for a UIA Gala event last night, heard Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin share a deeply personal account of heartbreak, courage, and advocacy following the loss of their son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

The emotional interview was sensitively led by social media activist Marnie Perlstein.Rachel and Jon’s relentless advocacy placed Hersh’s name and story firmly in global consciousness, yet the personal cost they bear is unimaginable. With bravery and poignant clarity, Rachel and Jon recounted how their intense international advocacy was a desperate attempt to save their son and other hostages taken that tragic day.

Hersh was abducted during Hamas’ devastating attacks on October 7, 2023. His tragic death was confirmed 332 days later when his body was found alongside five other hostages, whom Rachel poignantly refers to as “the beautiful six.” Rachel explained candidly why it was crucial to publicly reveal the harrowing state in which the hostages were discovered:

“People need the truth of what happened. Everyone saw beautiful pictures of Hersh smiling, dancing, full of life; but it was extremely important people understood how these six cherished souls were found. Eden Yerushalmi, who was a metre sixty, weighed just 35 kilos. Hersh, who stood at a metre eighty-five, weighed only 53 kilos. They were emaciated, frozen, full of bullet holes.”

Rachel and Jon quickly realised the necessity of sharing Hersh’s story to create global awareness. Jon recalled the exact moment they made this choice:

“A group of us were gathered in our apartment, speaking on the phone to a woman who’d been in the bomb shelter with Hersh. She initially said Hersh was injured. Moments later, a friend informed us privately that his arm had been blown off. In that instant, we knew telling his story could potentially save his life. We needed the world to know.”

Their advocacy subsequently brought Hersh’s story international attention, reaching forums such as the United Nations, the Vatican, and the World Economic Forum, and even featuring on the cover of “Time” magazine.

When asked how they find the strength, Rachel responded candidly:
“Honestly, it’s not strength; I always feel like an impostor when people say that. It’s just an innate, primal, reflexive response when someone’s life is on the line. We have to keep going. As Winston Churchill famously said, ‘When you’re going through hell, keep going.’”
“We have all been hit by a truck that is still on us. Often that truck hits you and drives off, but with October 7, that truck has hit us and remains there.”

Rachel recalled a deeply personal connection to Australia, explaining how a year studying in Melbourne when she was younger supported her resilience. It was there that she first encountered Holocaust survivors on a large scale and began deeply understanding what it means to rebuild after unimaginable tragedy.

“The Australian community gave me tools I would use thirty years later; waking up each day saying, ‘Go.’ Even if you feel like lying on the floor, put on this costume that looks like a person and run, because there is life and death on the line.”

Both Rachel and Jon openly shared how their spirituality has evolved since Hersh’s death. Rachel described a profound, albeit painful, closeness to faith:

“The closest I’ve ever felt to really knowing God was when Hersh was killed. It felt so unbelievable that it could only be from God. I don’t pretend to understand this grand tapestry of life, but I trust it’s there.”
Jon also described a new depth to his spiritual practice:

“I say certain prayers now with way more thought and intention. Passages from Psalms ending with ‘God answer us’; I say these with depth and desperation I never knew before.”

Addressing their disappointment with global leaders’ inaction, Jon stated bluntly:
“It seemed obvious that world leaders from the 39 countries represented by hostages would stand together immediately, saying, ‘No, this is unacceptable in 2023.’ Yet, it didn’t happen; not then, and not even today. We’ve unfortunately seen the darker side of geopolitics.”

Highlighting a notable exception, Rachel mentioned Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla’s direct support at the World Economic Forum:
“Albert Bourla came up to me (after I spoke) and simply said, ‘Tell me exactly what to do, and I’ll do it.’ He followed through immediately. It reinforces something essential; we are what we do.”

“The next day, he was invited to the Congress at Davos, and on his lapel he had masking tape with the number 105, shocking me because he did that entirely on his own. He had seen I was wearing 104 the night before.”
“He came with us to Washington, met with Congress alongside us, and really put his actions behind his words.”
Rachel emphasised how Bourla exemplified a crucial Jewish ethical concept: taking meaningful action rather than simply offering supportive words or gestures.

Jon emotionally shared a recent revelation about Hersh’s impact during captivity. A recently freed hostage revealed Hersh continuously repeated a powerful mantra while in captivity:

“‘If you have the why, you’ll find the how.’ That mantra kept other hostages going, guiding them through the darkest moments.”
With this inspirational call to action echoing through the auditorium, attendees were visibly moved, reflecting deeply on the evening’s powerful message of hope, advocacy, and urgent action in the face of human tragedy.