Rachel Goldberg's wish for a 'Christmas of Peace' for all

By Vatican News

On 22 November Pope Francis met in the Vatican with a group of Israeli relatives of Hamas hostages held in Gaza, and with a group of families of Palestinians suffering in Gaza.

He listened to both groups, and during his General Audience shortly afterwards, he prayed for the people in the Holy Land who are suffering immensely.

Inviting everyone to pray for peace he said: “They suffer so much. I heard how they both suffer, wars do that.”

Among those present with the Israeli delegation was Rachel Goldberg-Polin, who every day wears a sticker with the number of days that have passed since her son, Hersh, was abducted by Hamas militants.

On the 75th day, and in the run-up to Christmas, she sent us this video expressing her hope to Pope Francis, to the 'friends of the Vatican' and all Christians, that it may be a Christmas of peace.

Rachel’s story

On 7 October, 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg, kidnapped from the rave party in southern Israel when it came under attack by Hamas terrorists. In an attempt to escape he was hit by a grenade that mutilated off his arm, and he was taken prisoner by Hamas.

For two days his family knew nothing about him and believed him dead. Then, on social media they saw a video of him being taken hostage by his captors. 

Vatican Media’s Roberto Cetera met Hersh’s mother Rachel about one month later at her home in Jerusalem. 

“I was struck by how Rachel expressed her apprehension and grief with great discretion and gentleness,” Cetera said, adding that at the end of the interview she offered to send a video message to Pope Francis, which was delivered to the recipient and published on these pages of Vatican News.

When the Pope met the delegation of relatives of the hostages in the Vatican on 22 November,   Rachel expressed her gratitude to Vatican Media in an interview. 

In the subsequent releases of hostages during the short truce period, Hersh was not among those who were able to return home.  It is hoped that the negotiations that have now opened for a new truce will soon lead to new releases, and Hersh may be among them.