Berkeley – Hersh Goldman-Polin, a young man from Berkeley, was tragically killed in Gaza while being held hostage by Hamas. He was one of six people killed. Hersh became known in the Bay Area and beyond due to his parents’ efforts to secure his release. Now, the devastated Jewish community insists that keeping hope alive is essential.
On Sunday morning, his family shared the sad news on Instagram, announcing the death of Hersh, a 24-year-old who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 at an Israeli music festival. Aaron Katler, a longtime family friend from Berkeley, was part of Team Hersh, working for his release.
It’s not how any of us expected the story to end, said Katler. We believed he was coming home until we had no reason to believe otherwise.
Reports indicate that Hersh and five other hostages were executed by Hamas on Friday as Israeli troops advanced. Hersh had gained attention during the crisis after being forced by his captors to make a propaganda video. His parents moved the Democratic National Convention to tears with their account of his kidnapping.
Since then, our lives have completely changed, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh’s mother, told the convention in August. Parents can imagine the pain and suffering we, and all the hostage families, are going through.
Katler emphasized that Hersh’s parents worked hard to make the hostage situation about humanity rather than politics.
John and Rachel made this a human issue, Katler said. They made it real, and we hope Hersh’s memory will inspire people to make the world a better place.
On Sunday morning, a larger-than-usual crowd gathered at the Lafayette highway overpass. Yoav Harlev, who organized the weekly demonstration, said no one was giving up hope.
Hope isn’t optional; it’s mandatory, Harlev said. We have to believe because these are real people with families waiting for them.
Despite the heartbreaking news, demonstrators felt a responsibility to remain optimistic for the other hostages.
I always have hope, said Ilana Pearlman from Berkeley. If Hersh’s mom can still hope, how can I not? So I will keep hoping and keep showing up.
Yael Nivam Kirsht, who has also experienced loss, shared the pain. Two of her family members were kidnapped on October 7. While her sister-in-law was released, her brother-in-law was killed.
The families of the remaining hostages can’t give up hope, she said. We are here to show them we’re standing with them until all the hostages are back.
The hostage crisis, like the overall situation in Gaza, remains a problem with no clear solution. Is their return possible through military action or negotiation? And how much trust can anyone have in a deal amid such brutality?
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