Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage killed in Gaza, has released a latest memoir detailing her grief and the enduring impact of her son’s captivity and death. The book, titled When We See You Again, was published in April 2026 and offers a raw, unfiltered account of her experience as a mother navigating loss after her son was held captive by Hamas for nearly a year before being killed in a tunnel in Gaza.
According to multiple verified reports, Hersh Goldberg-Polin was among the 251 people abducted by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, cross-border attack on Israel. He was taken from the Nova music festival site after sustaining severe injuries, including the loss of a hand from a grenade blast, before being dragged into Gaza’s tunnel network. Fellow hostages recalled that during his captivity, Hersh frequently quoted a line from Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl: “Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how.’” This phrase became widely associated with him and appeared on signs, graffiti, and memorials worldwide.
After nearly 11 months in captivity, Hersh and five other hostages were shot dead by their captors in August 2024, deep within Gaza’s underground tunnel system, as Israeli forces advanced nearby. His body was recovered and identified, and his funeral was held in Jerusalem on September 2, 2024, attended by family, friends, and public officials. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed his death resulted from gunshot wounds inflicted by Hamas militants.
In her memoir, Rachel Goldberg-Polin describes the prolonged anguish of not knowing her son’s fate for months, the hope sustained by his reported resilience and quoting of Frankl’s words, and the devastation of learning he had been killed. She writes that the book contains no narrative resolution, no tidy message of hope, and no attempt to assign blame—only a honest portrayal of grief in its rawest form. “I’m still trying to figure out with clarity what is my why,” she said in a recent interview, “but it’s clear to me that my why is not done.”
The memoir has drawn attention not only for its personal honesty but also for its reflection on the broader human cost of the October 7 attack and the ensuing conflict. Hersh’s story became emblematic of the hostage crisis, with his image and the Frankl quote appearing in protests, vigils, and advocacy campaigns calling for the release of all captives. His parents, Rachel and Jonathan Polin, were among the most visible figures in the international campaign to secure the hostages’ return, speaking at global forums and meeting with world leaders.
As of April 2026, all remaining hostages held by Hamas had been released following a ceasefire agreement in October 2024, though Hersh and the five others killed with him did not survive to see freedom. The memoir’s release coincides with ongoing international discussions about accountability, the fate of missing persons, and the long-term psychological toll on families affected by the conflict.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin continues to reside in Jerusalem, where she remains active in humanitarian and memorial initiatives related to the hostages. She has not announced plans for further public commentary beyond the book, stating that her current focus is on processing her grief and honoring her son’s memory through truth-telling.
For readers seeking to understand the personal dimensions of the Israel-Hamas conflict beyond headlines, When We See You Again offers a deeply human perspective rooted in verified events and emotional authenticity.
Those interested in learning more about the hostage situation and related developments can follow updates from official sources such as the Israeli government’s Hostages and Missing Persons Forum or reputable international news outlets covering the region.
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