NEW YORK CITY (VINnews) – Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and killed in a Gaza tunnel after 328 days in captivity, spoke of her ongoing grief and the enduring power of love in a recent interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper.

“Love is stronger than death. Love is stronger than time. So, the love for him keeps growing,” Goldberg-Polin told Tapper.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American, was wounded and abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. He was held hostage until he and five other captives were executed by their captors in an underground tunnel in Rafah, Gaza. Israeli forces recovered their bodies on Aug. 31, 2024.

In the interview, Goldberg-Polin discussed her journey through loss while promoting her new memoir, “When We See You Again,” which details the family’s desperate search for information in the chaotic days after the attack, their tireless advocacy for Hersh’s release and the devastating confirmation of his death.

Goldberg-Polin and her husband, Jon Polin, became prominent voices in the global campaign to free the hostages, meeting with world leaders and addressing the Democratic National Convention. Despite the immense pain, she described grief as intertwined with love.

The couple has continued to honor Hersh’s memory and advocate for the remaining issues tied to the Oct. 7 atrocities.

Hersh’s story has become a symbol for many in the Jewish community and beyond of resilience amid unimaginable tragedy.