Rachel Goldberg Polin Shares Her Journey in When We See You Again

Some stories are written not with ink, but with tears, courage, and an unbreakable love that refuses to fade. This spring, Rachel Goldberg‑Polin will share one such story with the world when her memoir, When We See You Again, is released in April.

Goldberg‑Polin became a familiar and powerful presence to millions after the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, when her 23‑year‑old son, Hersh Goldberg‑Polin, was abducted from the Nova music festival in southern Israel and taken into Gaza. Her tireless advocacy, heartfelt speeches, and steady moral clarity transformed her into one of the most recognizable voices of the hostage families, reminding the world that behind every headline stood a human life, a family, and a nation in pain.

The book, to be published by Random House, traces the emotional and spiritual journey that followed the attack from the first hours of uncertainty, through months of global advocacy, and into the devastating confirmation of loss. Goldberg‑Polin will also narrate the audiobook edition, offering listeners a deeply personal connection to her words and voice.

“I sat down to write my pain, and out poured loss, suffering, love, mourning, devotion, grief, adoration and fracturedness,” she said in a statement announcing the release. “This book recounts the first steps of a million‑mile odyssey that will take the rest of my life to walk on shattered feet.”

After Hersh was taken captive, Goldberg‑Polin and her husband, Jon Polin, refused to remain silent. They traveled across continents, meeting with world leaders and moral authorities, including U.S. President Joe Biden and Pope Francis. They addressed the United Nations, stood before massive crowds at rallies, and spoke to countless media outlets, urging the international community not to forget the hostages held by Hamas.

One of Goldberg‑Polin’s most striking personal rituals became a daily reminder of time passing in captivity. Each day, she wrote the number of days Hersh had been held on a piece of masking tape and placed it on her clothing. The simple act carried immense emotional weight, turning every appearance into a living calendar of longing and hope.

In September 2024, Israeli officials announced that Hersh’s body, along with those of five other hostages, had been recovered from a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. Forensic findings confirmed the captives had been murdered at close range. Tens of thousands gathered in Jerusalem for Hersh’s funeral, a testament to how deeply his story had touched the nation.

The memoir does not shy away from the raw reality of grief. According to the publisher, the writing is candid, intimate, and emotionally unfiltered. In one excerpt, Goldberg‑Polin reflects on the crushing weight of sorrow: “There are days when I break completely. I have cried for an entire day straight. I didn’t think it was physically possible, but the weeping never let up. I kept hoping I would run out of tears. And then there are days when there is a whisper of sun. Not out there in the sky. In me. In us.”

Beyond personal loss, the book stands as a testimony to the moral struggle Israel has faced since October 7 a struggle for justice, for the safe return of captives, and for the dignity of human life in the face of terror. Goldberg‑Polin’s story reflects the deep bond between Israeli families and the broader Jewish world, where individual heartbreak becomes collective responsibility and memory becomes a call to conscience.

When We See You Again is not only a memoir of grief, but a record of love, faith, and the unbreakable connection between a mother and her child. It also preserves the voice of a woman who refused to allow silence or indifference to define her son’s fate, even when the outcome was unbearably painful.

As Israel continues to navigate complex challenges on the world stage, stories like Goldberg‑Polin’s remind readers of the human core behind national headlines. They affirm the value of family, community, and the enduring spirit that binds the Jewish people together across borders and generations.

Israel stands for life, memory, and moral courage, even in the hardest moments.

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