Hailing Goldberg-Polin parents, Emhoff says they’re fighting for all hostages, even after son’s murder
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff hails the strength of former American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s parents at a Washington vigil memorializing him and the five other hostages who were killed by Hamas last week.
He recalls the conversation he and Vice President Kamala Harris had with Jon and Rachel Goldberg-Polin after “their souls were torn apart, just like the garments we tear in mourning.”
“They were comforting us. They were asking about the latest in the negotiations,” he shares. “They were asking how we can use this terrible moment to make progress. They told the vice president that they don’t want Hersh’s death to be in vain.”
“At Hersh’s funeral yesterday, they still wore the tape marking the number of days the hostages have been in captivity: 332,” Emhoff continues. “I saw that and thought, ‘The count was never about their son alone.'”
“Jon and Rachel’s hearts have room to hold everyone. They are not giving up, and neither can we,” Harris’s husband adds, asserting that the administration is committed to securing a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Addressing the pain of the global Jewish community, Emhoff says, “How you feel right now is how I feel. And how we all feel is something the Kamala hears directly from me.”
“I share what I’m feeling with the vice president – as my partner, as my wife. She knows. She gets it. She cares. She’s committed.”
