Jerusalem Mural Honors Hersh and Ori's Friendship

The Jerusalem Municipality dedicated a new "unity" mural at Teddy Stadium on Monday honoring Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Ori Danino, The Jerusalem Post reported. The two Jerusalem residents supported rival football clubs and became close friends during 328 days in Hamas captivity. Both were slain as hostages, The Times of Israel reported. The Media Line said their friendship became a symbol of unity in the city despite their rival loyalties.

Jerusalem-born artist Tomer Peretz, a lifelong Beitar Jerusalem supporter, created the mural, The Media Line reported. It shows Goldberg-Polin and Danino together at a packed Teddy Stadium, alive and laughing, surrounded by the teams and the city they loved. Danino was a devoted Beitar Jerusalem fan, and Goldberg-Polin cheered for Hapoel Jerusalem, according to The Jerusalem Post. Both had gone to matches at Teddy with relatives and friends since childhood, The Media Line reported.

The two came from different parts of Jerusalem. Danino grew up in a Haredi family in the Ramot neighborhood, while Goldberg-Polin was raised in an Anglo religious family in Talpiot, The Jerusalem Post reported. They were abducted separately on October 7, 2023, and were eventually held together in Gaza. Hostages who later returned said the two cared for and sustained each other under extreme conditions.

In the days after the attack, when Goldberg-Polin's left arm was blown off, Danino reportedly argued with their captors and pushed them to give him medical treatment, which helped save his life at the time, The Jerusalem Post reported. The municipality said the mural reflects the idea that people with different backgrounds, identities and worldviews can still stand together.

Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh's mother, spoke at the dedication, The Jerusalem Post reported. She said that in a beautiful, complex and holy city, the two teams can seem completely different. "And then there were two boys, brought together in fire," she said. "At the end of the day, all there is, is love. Two hearts. One city. Jerusalem. Together."

The municipality said the mural will stay at the stadium as a permanent symbol of hope and brotherhood, The Jerusalem Post reported. It said the work is a reminder that Jerusalemites with different opinions and loyalties can find common ground. The slogans "Only Beitar" and "Only Hapoel," the municipality said, gave way in the end to something the two friends shared.