Inspiring Jew from Today: Rachel Goldberg-Polin
Until October 2023, Rachel Goldberg-Polin was a mother and educator living a relatively private life in Jerusalem. Everything changed when her son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks.
Faced with unimaginable uncertainty and heartbreak, Rachel could easily have retreated into herself. Instead, she became one of the most recognisable voices calling for the release of the hostages. Speaking with dignity, compassion and determination, she addressed governments, international organisations, universities and Jewish communities around the world.
What made Rachel’s advocacy so powerful was that she never spoke only about her own son. She consistently highlighted the plight of all the hostages and their families, reminding the world that these were real human beings enduring unimaginable suffering.
Rachel has also shown extraordinary courage in allowing the world to witness her pain. Rather than hiding her grief, fear and heartbreak, she shared it all openly, helping people around the world understand the human cost of the hostage crisis. Her vulnerability became one of her greatest strengths, transforming her personal tragedy into a powerful call for empathy and action.
Even after learning of Hersh’s death, Rachel continued to speak with remarkable grace and resilience. Rather than allowing grief to consume her, she chose to honour her son’s memory by advocating for others and encouraging people to respond to darkness with humanity and hope.
Rachel often speaks about the idea of “traumatic optimism”; the belief that it is possible to acknowledge pain and suffering while still choosing hope. Her example reminds us that optimism is not about denying reality. It is about finding the strength to believe in a better future, even when the present feels unbearably difficult.