‘Flood the world with goodness,' parents of hostage killed by Hamas say at Montreal event
News
By
The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American who Hamas took hostage and later killed, urged Canadians to push back against misinformation and 'flood the world with goodness' during a public appearance in Montreal.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin spoke at the Montreal Holocaust Museum Monday at an event moderated by community member Lisa Singer and organized by Federation CJA.
The couple shared their son's story with the hundreds of people who turned out, highlighting the 58 hostages still believed to be held in Gaza.
During the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 2023, which killed around 1,200 people — mostly civilians — their son Hersh was taken from a bomb shelter. Part of his arm was severed from a rocket blast.
Held in Gaza for nearly 11 months, Hersh was confirmed dead in August 2024. When his body was recovered, it showed signs of close-range gunshot wounds to the hand, neck, shoulder and head. He was one of six hostages Hamas executed shortly before their remains were found.
On Monday, the couple spoke about their lives before and after the Oct. 7 attack, who their son was, and what gives them the strength to carry on. They described Hersh as a friend to everyone and full of life.
Born in Berkeley, Calif., and raised in Richmond, Va., Hersh moved to Israel with his family in 2008. He had recently returned from travelling in Europe and was planning to explore more of the world when he attended the Re'im Music Festival near the Gaza border.
'He was a normal person. Not perfect, but the perfect son for me,' Goldberg-Polin said. 'I feel like God was very wise, saying, 'Rachel's going to have one son — this is the one she's getting.''
Goldberg-Polin stressed the need to not shy away from what happened to Hersh and others. Even the forensic details, she said, such as gunpowder embedded in his hair from being shot at close range, should not be hidden.
'It's the truth, and it's testimony, and I think that's critical. … In a world where so much can be manipulated, where there's AI and disinformation, truthful testimony matters.'
They described a meeting with another released hostage who had seen Hersh weeks into captivity. Despite his injuries, they said he stayed mentally strong and often repeated the phrase: 'He who has a 'why' can bear almost any 'how.''
The couple has been travelling the globe to share Hersh's story and rally international support for the remaining hostages.
Asked when she misses him most, Goldberg-Polin replied: 'When I'm breathing.'
'I had a son, and I loved him, and he knew it, and he loved me, and I knew it. I was blessed — and I am blessed.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Halifax police charge man with child luring after receiving tip from U.S. group
HALIFAX - A Halifax-area man has been charged with child luring after police received a tip from the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip on May 21 alleged a suspect was using social media to talk to a 10-year-old American girl about inappropriate sexual activities. Halifax Regional Police say their investigation determined the two had begun communicating online in January 2025, using various platforms including Snapchat and Slowly. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Investigators allege the man presented himself as a 15-year-old boy who also mailed the girl handwritten letters and gifts. The investigation included co-operation between the Halifax Integrated Child Exploitation Unit and the Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center in Wisconsin. On Thursday, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in Dartmouth, across the harbour from downtown Halifax, where electronic devices and firearms were seized. The suspect was arrested without incident and charged with luring a child under 16, making child pornography, and five offences related to firearms. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2025.
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Calgary woman loses $800k in romance scam: ‘I have nothing left'
Barbara Grant was one of many Canadians who found themsleves lonely during the pandemic. For the first time in her life, she set out to find a connection on an online dating site. That's when she met Michael Janda. 'We started talking… he said, 'You are gorgeous, I want to be with you,'' Grant said. The two quickly formed a bond. Janda's profile said he worked in the same oil and gas industry where she had built a successful career. As the weeks went by, they spoke about plans of marriage and buying a home together in Victoria, B.C. Then came the requests that preyed on her emotions. 'He told me he was caught in Doha, Qatar, carrying $1.5 million in cash,' she said, 'And police put him in jail.' Story continues below advertisement The two continued to communicate on LinkedIn after moving away from the dating site where they first connected. Over a period of nearly a year, Grant sent Janda money in several bank transfers — first to a trucking company in Ontario, then an individual in the U.S. Then one day in November, Grant realized her mistake — Janda wasn't who he said he was. 'He contacted me through LinkedIn and said, 'I can't come to Calgary any more, they've locked me up again.' He was coming to the airport and I was going to pick him up. 'I then realized it was a scam.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I then realized it was a scam." Grant lost $800,000 CAD — her life's savings. 'I have nothing left, except what's in my (Registered Retirement Income Fund). I'm devastated by it… absolutely devastated.' 4:24 Spotting romance scams Falling into a deep depression, Grant was checked into a mental health unit on multiple occasions in Calgary. She contemplated ending her own life. Story continues below advertisement Then she took action, hiring a B.C.-based private investigator to look into her case. Six months later, Denis Gagnon had compiled a 400-page report. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It's basically a daily event,' Gagnon said, explaining his work. Gangon was able to trace the transfers Grant sent. He says those recipients are commonly referred to as 'mules.' 'The money that's being transferred goes through a mule and goes to a different account. That person takes a percentage and then sends it overseas.' But who was ultimately behind it all is still a mystery. The lengthy report was then forwarded on to the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Interests, which earlier this week ruled in favour of Grant's bank, TD. 'I want TD Canada Trust to know about what happened to me… it has ruined my life,' Grant said. 'The bank is not responsible, not accountable… they have a fiduciary responsibility to me to give me some of my money back.' 2:36 Matchmaker warns of new, advanced romance scams In 2024, TD faced fines on both sides of the Canada/U.S. border — first in May, when Fintrac fined the bank $9.2 million for a range of failures including not submitting suspicious transaction reports when there was reasonable grounds to require it to do so, not assessing and documenting money laundering/terrorist activity financing risks and for the bank not taking prescribed special measures for high risk. Story continues below advertisement CIBC and RBC were also fined similar amounts. But that number was then dwarfed months later in the United States, when TD became the largest bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to violating a federal law aimed at preventing money laundering, and agreed to pay over $3 billion in penalties to resolve the charges. In that case, TD said its program was 'insufficient to effectively monitor, detect, report, and respond to suspicious activity' and work is underway to remedy the deficiencies. 3:52 TD Bank fined $3B U.S. in money-laundering case Global News asked TD officials for a statement on improvements to that program and further protections for its clients, but did not hear back by deadline. Grant says she's looking into a debt consolidation loan in order to wipe her hands clean from a years-long ordeal that has altered her world. Story continues below advertisement But she also wants her story to serve as a warning to others — if it can happen to this savvy, successful 75-year-old, it can happen to anyone. 'When someone comes forward and is willing to talk about what happened, we really should be commending them,' explained Wes Lafortune of the Better Business Bureau of Alberta. Lafortune estimates only five per cent of these type of crimes are ultimately reported and awareness can make a huge difference. 'It's really important to report these crimes to police, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Better Business Bureau… so these organizations can determine what sort of resources can be put into this.' Gagnon says it will take much more than status quo to turn the tide on this situation. Story continues below advertisement 'I think Canada has become a bit of a target for fraudsters. In the United States, I believe the penalties are much more severe. Canada is (still working through that),' Gagnon explained. 'Most people don't break into a house now through the door. They come in through your phone — or the screen you're looking at.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Most people don't break into a house now through the door. They come in through your phone — or the screen you're looking at." Grant was ready to spend her golden years travelling, downsizing her home and spending time with her children. Now at 75, she says she'll likely return to work as a consultant in the fall. She also sells her own paintings and dances. She's quite the catch — but you won't find her on any dating sites. 'No. No. I have some good friends, that's it, that's all,' she said.
Toronto Star
6 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Man charged with hate crime in Boulder attack on ‘Zionist people' appears in federal court
DENVER (AP) — A man who told investigators he was driven by a desire 'to kill all Zionist people' when he threw Molotov cocktails at demonstrators raising awareness of Israeli hostages appeared briefly in federal court for the first time Friday to face a hate crime charge. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, sat in the jury box in a Denver courtroom dressed in a green jail uniform and his wrists handcuffed, a U.S. Marshal sitting in the row behind him. Listening to the proceedings in Arabic through an interpreter, he answered 'yes' and 'I understand' in Arabic as the magistrate judge explained his rights.
