A week ago this morning I rolled out of bed, kissed my husband good morning, prepared breakfast for our daughters, and turned to my phone to check in with the rest of the world. I felt both devastation and hope as I read the headlines about Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage, being forced to make a video for Pesach as part of Hamas’ game of psychological warfare. It was heartbreaking to see Hersh’s fragile arm after his hand was blown off during the Hamas attack at the Nova Festival on October 7th and to witness the clear deterioration of his health. And still, I felt a deep pang of prayerful optimism just seeing him alive. I didn’t watch the video, but I stared at photos of Hersh for a long time that morning. The range of emotions we feel, this intense combination of relief at seeing Hersh alive and the fear of the fate of all of the hostages, is overwhelming to say the least.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh’s mother, may be one of the first people to be on the Time100 list for a job she didn’t want—becoming the unofficial spokesperson for the 133 remaining hostages in Gaza, truly, becoming a mother to all Zionist Jews who pray for peace and safety in our homeland. I have heard Rachel speak now dozens of times, in videos and on Zoom calls; she is pure strength and love, just the type of leader we so desperately need now. She did not seek this horrifically painful position of power, but she has stepped into her role with grace, and her maternal strength daily fills my heart with hope.
On the family’s website, Rachel writes: “Everyday, people write to tell us about things they are doing to help. Whether calling their elected officials, helping advocate for their release, or praying and doing acts of kindness, it gives us so much comfort and strength.” I implore each of us this week to do at least one thing to help secure the safety of the hostages: wear the Bring Them Home necklace or make a piece of masking tape to wear marking the number of days the hostages have been in Gaza (today is 208), advocate for the hostages’ safe return on social media, contact government officials in America and Israel, light candles and focus your intentions, and share resources and talk about the hostages with family and friends.
My sincerest prayer and hope is that by doing one thing a day, as Rachel suggests, we will shine light on this horror and come one step closer to bringing all the remaining hostages home. We simply do not have the quiet privilege of hopelessness. As our Torah reminds us frequently, we must do everything we can to be a light unto the world.
— Cantor Emma Lutz