From the Liveblog of
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Hundreds gather at Jerusalem community center, home to Goldberg-Polins’ synagogue
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Hundreds of people gather in the courtyard of the local community center in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Baka, home to Hakhel, the Goldberg-Polins’ synagogue, in a vigil for the community’s son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, killed in captivity in Gaza.
Men, women, and children, religious and secular, quietly stand shoulder to shoulder at the vigil, some swaying to the familiar afternoon and evening prayers.
The crowd includes former Knesset member Rachel Azaria and Jerusalem deputy mayor Yosi Havilio. There are Goldberg-Polin’s friends from the Jerusalem Brigade, the fan club of the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team, and many wear the familiar red shirts printed with the black-and-white visage of Hersh.
A table set at the front of the outdoor space is crowded with memorial candles, lit in Hersh’s memory. The chain link fence behind the table is hung with banners bearing Hersh’s face, with red-and-black scarves worn by Hapoel Jerusalem fans, tied around links in the fence.
Those leading the prayers lead the crowd of mourners through soft renditions of “Avinu Malkenu,” the Jewish prayer of repentance, along with liturgical prayers and songs of mourning, prayers for the soldiers and the remaining hostages, finishing with Hatikva, Israel’s anthem.
Jerusalemites will stand with Israeli flags to accompany the car carrying the family to the cemetery on Monday afternoon.
