Reflector Editor’s Note: The following article is re-reprinted from the Jan. 9th edition of the Times of Israel.
Former Richmonder Rachel Goldberg, the mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, calls on people to place masking tape with ‘100’ on their chests to mark somber milestone on January 14
By JESSICA STEINBERG 9 January 2024, 5:46 pm 0
As the hostages held by Hamas near 100 days of captivity, Rachel Goldberg, the mother of Hamas hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, is asking supporters to tape the number 100 on their chests to mark the day.
The Bring Hersh Home campaign is launching “Hostages on the Heart,” hoping to get at least a million people to tape the number 100 to their chest on that day, January 14.
Goldberg has been placing a piece of masking tape with the number of days since her son was taken captive from the Supernova desert rave on October 7 on her chest each day since the atrocity.
She said she chose to wear the number rather than an image of Hersh as a photo remains static but the number continues to grow.
“For 100 days, I have sadly had to repeat the same custom every morning, watching the numbers grow day after day as I tape them to my shirt,” said Goldberg. “I don’t want to do this for one more day, but for as long as Hersh remains stolen, I will continue to tape the number of days he has been gone to my chest. I ask that for day 100 you join me, helping us continue to raise awareness that over 130 hostages are still suffering in captivity and must be immediately released.”
The Bring Hersh Home campaign asks supporters to show their solidarity and spread awareness on January 14 by writing the number 100 with a black marker on a piece of masking tape and placing it on their shirt, over the area of the heart, then posting a picture of the number with the tags #Bring_Hersh_Home and #BringThemHomeNow on Facebook, Instagram, X or TikTok.
His family said they hope to reach at least a million people all over the world and suggested asking friends, colleagues, family members, neighbors and community groups to do the same, along with community leaders and social influencers.
The IDF believes that 132 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 — including 25 bodies — remain in Gaza, after the terror group kidnapped some 240 people during its murderous onslaught against southern Israel.
In late November, 105 civilians were released during a weeklong truce, while four hostages were released prior to that, and one was rescued by troops. The bodies of 11 hostages have also been recovered by the military.
