Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was abducted October 7 and murdered by Hamas: Grief is a "badge of love"

Updated on: August 23, 2026 / 7:00 PM EDT / CBS News

Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was abducted October 7 and murdered by Hamas: Grief is a "badge of love"

TL;DR

  • Hersh Goldberg-Polin, son of American Israeli Rachel Goldberg-Polin, was abducted by Hamas on October 7th and later executed in a Gaza tunnel.
  • Rachel Goldberg-Polin became a prominent figure in advocating for the hostages, meeting world leaders and sharing her story.
  • A former hostage, Or Levy, shared that Hersh's mantra, "He who has a why can bear any how," helped him survive and offered comfort to Hersh's parents.
  • Goldberg-Polin is exploring her own 'why' and reframing grief as a 'badge of love' for her deceased son.
  • She acknowledges the immense pain but also a desire to reunderstand life and continue advocating for those lost.