Adir Glick
Rabbi
Rabbi Adir Glick began his tenure at Temple Har Zion in August, 2015.
September 10, 2024 | Israel
Heartbreaking News of the Killing of the Hostages
September 2, 2024
Dear friends,
This week I am returning from my sabbatical, and I am coming back shattered. The news of the murder of six hostages in Gaza yesterday–killed after ten long months of captivity–is devastating and heartbreaking.
The story of their lives and their names and faces from hostage posters and news reports made them feel like family to many of us. They were a symbol of our hope for the end of this conflict and of our Jewish belief that the sanctity of life is the highest value.
In particular, the story of murdered hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin impacts American Jews and especially Jews from Chicago. His parents are from the North Shore. They spoke everywhere about Hersh including most recently at the DNC this summer. They were active in the Jewish community in the United States and in Israel. Many of us felt as if our lives were interconnected with Hersh’s even if we did not know him personally.
Hersh spent six Passover retreats at Camp Ramah Darom in Georgia, where I also worked during the summer for five years. His mother is a faculty member at the Pardes Institute for Jewish learning where I studied before rabbinical school. His parents shared his story far and wide. He loved travel and music festivals. He was friendly and happy. He was a hero who tried to save dozens of other party goers on October 7th by throwing grenades back at the Hamas fighters until they blew off his arm. His face on the posters was open and light-filled.
The killing of the hostages has ignited massive protests in Israel where many believe the government could have worked harder to secure their release. Even amidst the hopelessness and grief, we cannot stop praying and hoping for the return of the remaining hostages. Life must come before death.
We send our love, prayers and sincere condolences to the families of the six hostages as we grieve with all of Am Yisrael, the Jewish people.
I leave you with the words of Rachel Goldberg-Polin at Hersh’s funeral today:
“Ok, sweet boy, go now on your journey. I hope it’s as good as the trips you dreamed about. Because finally, my sweet boy – finally, finally, finally you are free.”
Sincerely,
Rabbi Adir Glick
