This week, our people are in mourning after the deaths of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alex Lobanov, and Ori Danino. They were held hostage for ten months and were murdered by their Hamas captors just days before possible liberation. Hersh and his family have deep, multi-generational ties to the Conservative/Masorti Movement, and to Camp Ramah Darom, where so many of our chaverim of all ages have had transformative Jewish experiences. We offer our prayers, comfort, and strength to Rachel, Jon, their family, and to the families of all those whose lives were taken this week, and since October 7th, as well as the families of those still being held hostage by Hamas.
Their deaths are yet another of the tragedies that we have all experienced since October 7th during this war which has slowly morphed to multiple fronts.
In Judaism, we believe that each person is a universe unto their own. We often quote the line from Mishnah Sanhedrin: “To save one life, is to save the entire world,” but the line that precedes this beautiful teaching is: “Adam, the first human, was created alone to teach you that anyone who destroys one soul is as if he destroyed an entire world.”
This week, not only were six worlds destroyed, but also the lives of their families and the end of the hope for their loved one’s future. And yet, even at our darkest moments, our people never lose their hope. At Hersh’s funeral, his father, Jon, said, “Maybe your death is the stone, the fuel, that will bring home the 101 other hostages.” In her eulogy, Hersh’s mother said, “I also pray that your death will be a turning point in this horrible situation in which we are all entangled…”
I would like to conclude with the words in today’s eulogy, delivered by the inspirational Rachel Goldberg-Polin, who never gave up trying to get her son and all the other hostages back.
“As we transform our hope into grief and this new unknown brand of pain, I beg of you, please do what you can to have your light shine down on me, Dada, Leebie and Orly. Help shower us with healing and resilience. Help us to rise again.”
May the memories of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alex Lobanov, and Ori Danino be a blessing, and may we all rise again together.
Rabbi David Baum
Join us for two opportunities of prayer, learning and reflection this week
at Congregation Shaarei Kodesh:
Tuesday, September 3 at 6:00 pm: A special Mincha/Maariv where we will say Kaddish for the lives lost, with added readings.
Saturday, September 7 at 12:15 pm - Shabbat morning learning following services:
Shower Us with Healing and Resilience; Help Us to Rise Again
A special learning opportunity with Rabbi David Baum in memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Fellow Hostages
On September 2, 2024, many heard the eulogy of Rachel Goldberg-Polin for her son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin. It was an extraordinary eulogy: powerful, moving, and affecting. It was also a eulogy that connected to, played upon and referenced many aspects of Jewish tradition. Together, we will explore this eulogy along with related Jewish sources during our learning together after Shabbat services. We will delve into the Jewish texts raised in her eulogy, connecting Hersh’s life, with our long and rich tradition.
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