RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The world is remembering the life of Hersch Goldberg-Polin, the 23-year-old with ties to Virginia who was killed over the weekend after being taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7.
Goldberg-Polin’s parents paid tribute to their son during a funeral service in Jerusalem on Monday.
“I will love you and I will miss you every single day for the rest of my life, but you are right here. I know you are right here, I just have to teach myself to feel you in a different way,” Hersh’s mother, Rachel Goldberg said.
Goldberg described Hersh as the “perfect son for me.”
“One thing I keep thinking about is, out of all of the mothers in the whole entire world, God chose to give Hersh to me,” Rachel Goldberg told a large crowd at the funeral.
Over the weekend, Goldberg-Polin, who spent part of his childhood in the Richmond area, was killed along with five other hostages after being held captive by Hamas for nearly 11 months. Hersh’s parents described him as someone who did everything he could to make the world around him a better place.
“For 23 years, I was privileged to have the most stunning honor, to be Hersh’s Mom,” said Goldberg. “I’ll take it and say thank you. I just wish it was for longer.”
Hersh’s parents added that, for nearly a year, they agonized over his safety, but always believed their son would come home alive. Now, with that hope dashed, they say they’ll turn their attention to honoring the son they loved so much.
“The 23 years of life that we had with you were a blessing,” said Hersh’s father, Jon Polin. “We know will work to make your legacy a similar blessing.”
