
At the funeral of his 23-year-old son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was tragically murdered after being taken hostage, Jon Polin addressed the crowd with a profound sense of grief and regret. “We failed you, Hersh. We all failed you. You would not have failed you,” he expressed with deep sorrow. “You would have pushed harder for justice. You would have worked to understand the other, to bridge differences. You would have challenged more people to challenge their own thinking.”
Polin spoke passionately about his son’s commitment to making sure that his death, along with the deaths of soldiers and countless innocent civilians, would not be in vain. “Your starting point would be returning all of the hostages,” he emphasized, highlighting Hersh’s unwavering dedication to justice.
Reflecting on the relentless efforts he and his wife made to save their son, Polin shared, “For 330 days, mom and I sought the proverbial stone that we could turn over to save you. Maybe, just maybe, your death is the stone that will bring home the remaining 101 hostages.”
He described how Hersh would continue to advocate for a new way of thinking in the region, believing in the importance of taking risks for the possibility of ending the ongoing cycles of violence. “You would keep on pushing for a rethinking of this region. You have said we must take a chance on a path with the potential to end the ongoing cycles of violence,” Polin said.
In his poignant tribute, Polin noted that his son would challenge every decision-maker to reflect on whether their actions contribute to a better future, and if not, to step aside. He also conveyed how Hersh’s belief in social justice had made him a global symbol for change, emphasizing his commitment to understanding others with dignity and respect.
As he concluded his eulogy, Polin spoke of the 23 precious years they had with Hersh, expressing a resolve to honor his son’s memory. “For 23 years of life we had with you were a blessing, we now will work to make your legacy a blessing. You were a really great guy, I love you,” he said, his voice filled with love and loss.
{Matzav.com Israel}