As someone who stood on the street with my flag as the funeral cavalcade passed, to say goodbye to Hersh and to show the family that we are with them, I take my strength from Rachel Goldberg-Polin herself. She began her eulogy not by mourning what she lost, but by thanking God for what she had: 23 years of an amazing son. "I want to thank God right now in front of all of you for giving me this magnificent present of my son Hersh." Great Jews like her will continue to inspire us to endure tragedy and come out the other side, as we have done throughout history. The Holocaust led to the creation of the State of Israel. Only God knows what our current catastrophe will lead to--if we only stop hating each other and finally learn to respect and love each other.
You wrote beautifully. How fortunate you are to have a friend in Rachel. I’ve admired her and Jon from afar. I’m holding Hersh’s family in my heart along with the other broken-hearted families.
The American government that, along with Hamas, told the Israelis not to attempt another hostage rescue in Rafah, then paraded a suffering hostage family at their convention, vowing to bring their son home safely, was shamefully exposed as worthless, callous pretenders. The son was brutally murdered within days of their hideous charade.
Then their still- official leader, president Biden blamed the Israelis!
He and his cohort have become loathsome. Words fail. I am truly ashamed of my government. May God bless you and keep you all.
Clal Israel must sustain the unity of purpose through the heartbreak and loss. Israel will then decisively prevail over these archaic forces of evil on behalf of what ever remains of the civilized world.
Was waiting for you to “speak to us”, today, Daniel, after an agonizing weekend grieving from afar and you did not disappoint. Mazel Tov to your niece.
It feels that way, but it is not so. The people of Israel still live, though too many individuals sadly do not. It happened that way in the previous generation, and in many before that. But yet there is always The Hope.
The God of Israel is still over all and will preserve you as a people.
Many are standing beside you in spirit, also grieving, but believing for blessings on you, as together, we call out to haShem for mercy!
As someone who stood on the street with my flag as the funeral cavalcade passed, to say goodbye to Hersh and to show the family that we are with them, I take my strength from Rachel Goldberg-Polin herself. She began her eulogy not by mourning what she lost, but by thanking God for what she had: 23 years of an amazing son. "I want to thank God right now in front of all of you for giving me this magnificent present of my son Hersh." Great Jews like her will continue to inspire us to endure tragedy and come out the other side, as we have done throughout history. The Holocaust led to the creation of the State of Israel. Only God knows what our current catastrophe will lead to--if we only stop hating each other and finally learn to respect and love each other.
You wrote beautifully. How fortunate you are to have a friend in Rachel. I’ve admired her and Jon from afar. I’m holding Hersh’s family in my heart along with the other broken-hearted families.
The American government that, along with Hamas, told the Israelis not to attempt another hostage rescue in Rafah, then paraded a suffering hostage family at their convention, vowing to bring their son home safely, was shamefully exposed as worthless, callous pretenders. The son was brutally murdered within days of their hideous charade.
Then their still- official leader, president Biden blamed the Israelis!
He and his cohort have become loathsome. Words fail. I am truly ashamed of my government. May God bless you and keep you all.
Clal Israel must sustain the unity of purpose through the heartbreak and loss. Israel will then decisively prevail over these archaic forces of evil on behalf of what ever remains of the civilized world.
Perhaps the breaking of the glass at weddings will take on additional meaning for near future.
We share our simcha with those who cannot.
More than anything else the wedding is the ultimate act of we are not going away.
The glass shatters, there is that moment of silence
And with tears in our eyes we is fill the air with the words Od Yeshamah B'Haray Yehuda.....
Was waiting for you to “speak to us”, today, Daniel, after an agonizing weekend grieving from afar and you did not disappoint. Mazel Tov to your niece.
I feel that break here as well, on this western slope of a continent half a world away from these voices.
My heart is breaking and there are no words. It is as though all is already lost.
It feels that way, but it is not so. The people of Israel still live, though too many individuals sadly do not. It happened that way in the previous generation, and in many before that. But yet there is always The Hope.
The God of Israel is still over all and will preserve you as a people.
Many are standing beside you in spirit, also grieving, but believing for blessings on you, as together, we call out to haShem for mercy!