CLAYTON, Ga. — A camp in north Georgia is grieving the death of one of the six hostages killed by Hamas, saying this weekend "there are no words to express the heartbreak we are all feeling."
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, was a counselor at an annual Passover program at the camp, Ramah Darom in Clayton, Georgia.
On Facebook, the camp posted photos of Goldberg-Polin and said his loss is "gut-wrenching."
"The hope we were holding onto, the raw emotion and the tireless persistence of Rachel and Jon to keep Hersh and the hostages top of mind, make this news even more gut wrenching. We grieve along with the entire Goldberg-Polin family," the post said. "May Hersh’s memory forever be a blessing, and may his family know no more sorrow. Baruch Dayan Ha’emet."
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr also put out a statement on Goldberg-Polin's death, noting his relatives had installed an exhibit in his honor at Congregation Shearith Israel in Atlanta.
"May God comfort his parents, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, his sisters, and all those who knew and loved him," AG Carr said.
Who was Hersh Goldberg-Polin?
The native of Berkeley, California, lost part of his left arm to a grenade blast in the Oct. 7 attack. In April, a Hamas-issued video showed him with his left hand missing, sparking new protests in Israel urging the government to do more to secure his and others’ freedom.
His parents, U.S.-born immigrants to Israel, became perhaps the most high-profile relatives of hostages on the international stage. They met with U.S. President Joe Biden, Pope Francis and others and addressed the United Nations, urging the release of all hostages.
On Aug. 21, his parents addressed a hushed hall at the Democratic National Convention — after sustained applause and chants of “bring him home.”
“This is a political convention. But needing our only son — and all of the cherished hostages — home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue,” said his father, Jon Polin. His mother, Rachel, who bowed her head during the ovation and touched her chest, said: “Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive.”
They sought to keep their son and the other captives from being reduced to numbers, describing Hersh as a music and soccer lover and traveler with plans to attend university since his military service had ended. At events, Rachel often addressed her son directly, urging him to live another day.
Both wore stickers with the number 320, representing the number of days their son had been held. It had long become part of a morning ritual — tear a new piece of tape, write down another day.
Goldberg-Polin was among the hostages seized by militants at a music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7. He lost part of an arm in the attack. A Hamas-issued video in April showing Goldberg-Polin clearly speaking under duress sparked new protests in Israel urging the government to do more to secure his and others’ freedom.
