BONUS - Rachel Goldberg-Polin: Mother of murdered hostage Hersh 'parcels out her pain' in book

In this poignant bonus episode of The Times of Israel Daily Briefing, arts and culture editor Jessica Steinberg interviews Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of Hirsch Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and murdered in captivity in August 2024. Rachel discusses her new memoir, *When We See You Again*, which she describes not as a memoir or a tell-all, but as a deeply personal act of 'parceling out her pain'—a raw, emotional release of grief that she could no longer contain. The book, written in fragments prompted by her husband John and her therapist, becomes her answer to the universal yet unanswerable question: 'How are you?' It captures her journey from the pre-October 7th life of a mother, educator, and observant Jew, through the 330 days of torment during her son’s captivity, to the aftermath of his death. Rachel reflects on how writing became a form of 'broadcast therapy,' allowing her to externalize her suffering while honoring her son’s humanity—not as a hero, but as a complex, ordinary young man. She also shares the profound impact of small moments of connection, like the book Hirsch left behind that helped fellow hostages survive, and the spiritual insight she gained from meeting Orlevi, who brought light into her darkness. As she prepares for a book tour, Rachel expresses hope that her story will contribute to a larger 'why'—a purpose that sustains her amid unbearable loss. The episode reveals Rachel’s philosophy of 'tragic optimism'—a term she embraces as the antidote to toxic positivity. She acknowledges that grief is not something to be overcome, but a defining part of her identity. Her writing, though painful to revisit, is an act of love and truth-telling, meant to help others see the invisible pain she carries. The conversation is both heartbreaking and uplifting, emphasizing the power of storytelling, memory, and community in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Rachel’s message is clear: to be human is to carry pain and hope simultaneously, and in that duality lies resilience.