PURELY COMMENTARY
6 | SEPTEMBER 19 • 2024 J
N
1942 - 2024
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essay
What Rachel Didn’t Say
I
watched the eulogy twice.
And while, like everyone else,
I was brought to tears by the
heartbreaking words Rachel Polin-
Goldberg said about her sweet
Hersh, OBM, upon reflection, I was
more impressed by what she didn’t
say.
Rachel didn’t speak
against any politician.
The spirit of unity
that was so dominant
on Oct. 8 has been
strained. The tragic
saga of the hostages
has led to different
approaches in how to respond to
an impossible dilemma. Naturally,
there is negative focus on leaders
and military experts, with pent-
up anger, frustration and finger-
pointing. While I’m sure Rachel
and John have opinions on this
explosive topic, she chose not to use
the funeral of beloved Hersh to fuel
toxic flames of division.
Rachel didn’t mention the
terrorists.
Remarkably, Rachel made no
reference whatsoever to the terror
organization and terrorists who
cold-bloodedly murdered her son
just days earlier.
Evil and terror thrive not only on
horrible actions but on the presence
it continues to have in the lives of
victims and of those who are good.
It is extraordinary that Rachel
chose not to make any mention of
Hamas in her eulogy for Hersh.
This is itself a form of victory over
evil. Yes, you may have taken our
brightest and finest, and the pain is
indescribable, but we will not give
you the additional success of living
on in our world. We will do our
very best to eliminate your presence,
as the Hebrew words teach, “Let
their names and memories be
erased.” We will forever remember
Hersh, but we will work to forget
the evil cowards who snuffed out his
pure soul.
Rachel didn’t question G-d.
It would have been perfectly
understandable for Rachel to have
cried out “Why G-d, why?” or
questioned, challenged or simply
express disappointment with G-d.
And yet, amazingly, Rachel began
by thanking G-d — “I want to do
Hakarat Hatov and thank G-d in
front of all of you here” — for the
gift of having Hersh for 23 years.
Having faith is one thing,
struggling with faith is natural, but
to thank G-d in moments of unfair
pain is, in my mind, the greatest
level of faith one can achieve.
On that morning, Rachel had a
microphone to the world. What she
said touched our lives forever. What
she didn’t say was equally telling.
May Hashem grant strength,
comfort and resilience to Rachel,
John, Libi and Orli.
May Hersh’s memory continue to
inspire and brighten the world.
May we see redemption from the
unbearable pain.
Rabbi Shneur Silberberg is assistant rabbi at
the Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center of
West Bloomfield.
Rabbi
Shneur
Silberberg
Hersh and
Rachel