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Rachel Goldberg Polin

What is rachel goldberg polin?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Born 1969[1]
Birth name Rachel Goldberg[1]
Citizenship United States; Israel[1]
Occupation Activist[1]
Known for Israel–Hamas war hostage crisis activism[1]
Residence Jerusalem[2]

Rachel Goldberg-Polin is an American-Israeli activist and Jewish educator who became a leading voice for hostage families after her son Hersh was taken during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

Context

Rachel Goldberg-Polin is an American-Israeli activist and Jewish educator who became a prominent voice for hostage families after her son Hersh Goldberg Polin was taken during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel [1]. Born Rachel Goldberg in 1969, she lives in Jerusalem and has dedicated herself to advocating for the release of captives [1][2]. She and her husband Jon Polin became two of the highest-profile relatives of Israeli hostages, meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden and Pope Francis during their campaign [1]. Her son Hersh was later killed in captivity, and she has continued to speak publicly about grief and loss [1][2].

Documented claims

  • She and her husband became two of the highest-profile relatives of Israeli hostages advocating publicly for their release. [1]
  • She met with U.S. President Joe Biden and Pope Francis during the hostage campaign. [1]
  • Her son Hersh Goldberg-Polin was taken hostage on October 7, 2023 and later killed in captivity. [1]
  • She has been described as a leading advocate for families of Israeli captives. [2]

Questions and answers

Who is Rachel Goldberg-Polin's husband?

Her husband is Jon Polin, and together they became two of the highest-profile relatives of Israeli hostages advocating publicly for their release [1].

What happened to Hersh Goldberg-Polin?

Hersh Goldberg-Polin was taken hostage on October 7, 2023 and later killed in captivity [1].

How old is Rachel Polin?

She was born in 1969, making her 55 years old as of 2024 [1].

Sources

  1. Rachel Goldberg-Polin: The Voice of the Mothers — hadassahmagazine.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was abducted October 7 and murdered by Hamas: Grief is a "badge of love" — cbsnews.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in People