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EXCLUSIVE: Jewish student leaders from across the United States converged on the nation’s capital on Monday for the Israel on Campus Coalition’s National Leadership Summit. During this pivotal event, they listened to an emotional address from Jon and Rachel Polin, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an American-Israeli hostage tragically killed by Hamas.
The Polins presented a heartfelt plea to over 700 students in attendance. They urged them to find their purpose, speak with conviction, and actively participate in efforts to secure the release of the 50 hostages who are still believed to be held in Gaza.
“Stand with your shoulders back and your head held high. Be proud, engage, and seek to genuinely learn and listen,” said Jon Polin. “Disarm the other side by engaging in meaningful dialogue.”
Their poignant remarks came shortly after the latest ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas fell apart. The Polins shared the stage with freed hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel, who also lent their voices to the urgent call for solidarity.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin was abducted by Hamas terrorists during the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. His death, following nearly ten months of uncertainty, was confirmed this past summer. “He will always be 23,” shared Rachel, reflecting on the devastating loss of her son.
Rachel vividly articulated her family’s grief. “This was not a choice. It felt instinctive and primal as a parent… I need Hersh. I require him in my life, just as I need water,” she expressed with raw honesty.
She ardently encouraged students to discover their own “why,” recalling the words of a former hostage who survived alongside Hersh. This individual had shared that Hersh quoted Viktor Frankl, emphasizing the importance of purpose: “When you have a why, you’ll find a way.” Rachel noted that the surviving hostages repeated daily the mantra, “What is our why?” to uplift their spirits during their ordeal.
In discussing Hersh’s character, Jon painted a vivid picture of a young man who had become emblematic of a “revolution for good.”
“He was exceptional at listening,” Jon remarked. “He would approach those he disagreed with and invite them for coffee to discuss their viewpoints. Often, we achieve little by merely shouting louder than our opponents.” Rachel described this practice as “radical listening.”
Jon recounted a conversation he had with another Israeli man who had made Hersh’s photo his phone background. “Every morning, the first thing I do is look at my phone and see Hersh’s image. I ask myself: What can I do to be better?” This, Jon reflected, embodies the revolution that Hersh sparked.
In an encouraging appeal, Rachel urged attendees to commit to taking at least one meaningful action each day. “Some choose to wear a yellow ribbon. Others recite a psalm or write to the White House. It doesn’t matter what actions you take; what matters is that you engage in some manner,” she advised.
Addressing the alarming rise in antisemitism on college campuses, Jon encouraged students to rise above despair and reject feelings of victimhood.
“Let’s stop saying, ‘Woe is us,’” he articulated. “Stand tall, show pride, and flip the narrative into one of strength and resilience.”
Jon challenged students to confront hatred with confidence and forge ahead despite obstacles. “We face challenges, but we possess all the elements needed to overcome them. We must act together; we have no other option,” he asserted.
Rachel also emphasized the importance of striving for progress rather than perfection. “Each of us must discern our purpose,” she stated. “What actions can I take today that will make the world a little better by nightfall?”
Her remarks concluded on a note of optimism for the future.
“I wish for us all the resilience, recovery, healing, and comfort that we desperately crave,” Rachel concluded emotionally. “There is light ahead. Let us all move toward that light.”
