On Sept. 1, I woke up at 1 a.m. and looked at my phone. The headline written was truly heartbreaking. The beautiful, gregarious, happy-go-lucky Israeli-American dual-citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, had been found brutally murdered under the tunnels of Rafah in Gaza. He and five other young hostages were executed just before the Israeli Defense Forces could rescue them, at the monstrous hands of Hamas. He was kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova Music Festival, a music festival for peace, on Oct. 7, 2023. He lost his arm helping friends and strangers during Hamas' savage massacre. We now face more casualties, hostages' lives at risk and this ongoing grief of war.
Having a gregarious son myself, since Oct. 7, 2023, I have followed Hersh's story and his parents' plea to bring him and all of the hostages home. I hurt immensely for Hersh's parents, Rachel and Jonathan. He was a young man who was just living his dream and was a symbol of hope. His parents never stopped believing in his return. They spoke out for Hersh and all of the remaining hostages through talks with leaders on both sides of this horrific war.
Today and every day, let us pray for Hersh and Hersh's family, the remaining hostages in Gaza and the innocent Palestinians who remain victimized by Hamas. Let's also offer a prayer for a rapid end to this horrendous war and a lasting peace.
LAURIE BRANDT
Baton Rouge