‘Bring him home’: Parents of Richmond man taken hostage by Hamas speak at Democratic National Convention

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — On day three of the Democratic National Convention, the parents of a Richmond man who was taken hostage by Hamas took several minutes to speak about the over 300 days their son has been gone.

As Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin , took to the podium, the crowd chanted “Bring him home!” and rose from their seats.

Twenty-three-year-old Goldberg-Polin is an Israeli-American citizen who was born in Oakland, California. He, like many others, was last seen on Oct. 7, 2023 .

Both of his parents were overtaken by emotion Wednesday night as they described the 109 hostages who are currently being held by Hamas. Eight of them are American citizens — including Goldberg-Polin.

Goldberg described her son as photos of him — from more recent ones to shots of him as a young child — were shown on the screen behind them. She explained that her son was visiting southern Israel to attend the Supernova Sukkot Gathering music festival with a friend, Aner. They were meant to be celebrating Goldberg-Polin’s 23rd birthday.

“As rockets began to fall, Hersh, Aner and 27 other young festival goers took refuge in a 5-foot by 8-foot bomb shelter,” Goldberg said of the events leading up to her son being taken. “Terrorists began to throw grenades into the shelter. Aner stood in the doorway and repelled seven of those grenades before the eighth one killed him.”

Goldberg said her son’s left and dominant arm was blown off during this attack.

Goldberg-Polin’s last sighting was him getting into the back of a pick-up truck alongside other Hamas hostages.

“That was 320 days ago,” Goldberg said — and that same number was taped to her and her husband’s chests. “Since then, we live on another planet. Anyone who is a parent, or has had a parent, can try to imagine the anguish and misery that Jon and I and all the hostage families are enduring.”

Goldberg then stepped aside so her husband could speak. Polin said he was happy to be home in Chicago, where both he and his wife were born.

“This is a political convention — but needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue,” Polin said. “It is a humanitarian issue.”

Polin said they and the other American hostage families meet regularly. He added that he appreciated that both Democrats and Republicans support the return of the hostages. Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have met with them several times.

“They’re both working tirelessly for a hostage and ceasefire deal that will bring our precious children, mothers, fathers, spouses, grandparents and grandchildren home — and will stop the despair in Gaza,” Polin said. “We are all deeply grateful to them.”

Polin also thanked everyone who has sent them and the other hostage families “love, support and strength” during this time. He said this has “kept [them] breathing in a world without air.”

“There is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East,” Polin said. “In a competition of pain, there are no winners.”

Polin said he believes the best solution is one that not only brings the hostages home, but ends the suffering in Gaza.

“Hersh, if you can hear us — we love you,” Goldberg said in closing. “Stay strong. Survive.”

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