Her son was taken and killed in Gaza. She still chooses humanity.
The Excerpt
USA TODAY
4.1 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 4 May 2026
⏱️ 17 minutes
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Summary
In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, 254 people were abducted. One of them was 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin. In his mother Rachel Goldberg-Polin's new book entitled, “When We See You Again,” she writes, “My family is comprised of normal people to whom an ab-normal, quite rare brand of torture happened.” The author warns us early on to strap ourselves in. And you should. Because it’s all there – day after excruciating day leading up to Day 328 when their son was murdered by Hamas. Wisdom, horror and resilience are intertwined here, but through them, you begin to understand the powerful faith, love and purpose woven throughout this family’s story. A story of two parents, two sisters and a son.
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Transcript
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| 0:34.4 | In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, 254 people were abducted. |
| 0:42.4 | One of them was 23-year-old Hirsch Goldberg-Pollen. |
| 0:46.2 | In his mother, Rachel Goldberg-Pollin's new book entitled, When We See You Again, she writes, |
| 0:51.4 | My Family is comprised of normal people, to whom an abnormal, |
| 0:56.6 | quite rare brand of torture happened. |
| 1:05.0 | Hello and welcome to USA Today's The Excerpt. I'm Dana Taylor. Today is Monday, May 4, |
| 1:10.7 | 2026. The author warns us early on |
| 1:14.5 | to strap ourselves in, and you should, because it's all there, every excruciating day leading |
| 1:21.2 | up to day 328 when their son was murdered by Hamas. Well, reading this book, I grappled with why relive this horror? |
| 1:31.1 | Later, when contemplating my conversation with Rachel, I grappled with the fear of asking |
| 1:36.6 | something hollow or parasitic. |
| 1:39.3 | How are you feeling? |
| 1:40.8 | But, of course, the wisdom, horror, and strength are intertwined here. And through them, you begin to |
| 1:47.4 | understand the powerful faith, love, and purpose woven throughout this family's story, a story of two |
| 1:54.5 | parents, two sisters, and a son. Thank you for being here, Rachel. Thank you, Dana. In the book, you refer to a lobby or a whole |
| 2:04.2 | way. Can you explain what that is and whether understanding it is where healing begins? |
| 2:10.7 | Well, I don't know that I'm an expert in any way on healing or resilience. This is very much not a |
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