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Last night, more than 2,300 members of the Jewish community and allies gathered in Toronto for a deeply moving evening with Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, whose son, Hersh, was murdered by Hamas terrorists in Gaza last August after having been wounded and kidnapped in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Despite the unfathomable tragedy they’ve suffered over the past 19 months, their unwavering resilience and enduring hope struck an emotional chord in the sold-out audience.

Appearing in Canada for the first time, Rachel and Jon took the stage at Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center's (FSWC) Voices of Change event, at Beth Tzedec Congregation, for an intimate and poignant conversation with former journalist Naomi Parness. They spoke about the horrors of the October 7 massacre, the abduction of Hersh by Hamas and learning of the devastating news of his murder 10 months later. With candor, they reflected on their relentless efforts campaigning around the world to bring Hersh home and how they’ve managed to hold onto light, purpose and faith in humanity despite their grief and terrible loss.

“People ask us now, ‘well, you buried him 260 days ago and you're still working,’” Jon reflected. “What we say is, number one, it’s just the right thing to do. It’s also something that all of us need – to bring these people home so we can begin a collective, global healing.”

The evening began with heartfelt remarks from Toronto high school student Dalia Baldor, who spoke about her painful encounters with antisemitism and her inspiring efforts to bring Holocaust education to her peers. FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt, along with Spirit of Hope 2025 co-chairs Benjie and Lauren Levy, also addressed the audience, which included survivors of two excruciating chapters of Jewish history – the Holocaust and the Nova Festival massacre.

The night concluded with a profoundly emotional moment as Holocaust survivor Nate Leipciger spontaneously approached the stage to hug the Polins after they spoke and to offer them a blessing. The event closed with a powerful rendition of Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, led by Rabbi Cantor Aviva Rajsky.

FSWC is deeply grateful to Rachel and Jon, as well as all the speakers and attendees who made this unforgettable evening possible. Together, we stood united in a resounding call for the immediate return of all remaining hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

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