Rachel Goldberg-Polin is an American-Israeli Jewish educator and the New York Times bestselling author of When We See You Again, a searing portrait of a mother’s grief in the wake of unthinkable tragedy.

Rachel became one of the most visible voices of the hostage crisis after October 7, 2023, when her son, Hersh, was stolen by Hamas at the Nova Music Festival. In the months that followed, she and her husband, Jon Polin, became full-time advocates, speaking around the world about Hersh’s abduction and working tirelessly – in public and behind the scenes – for the release of all those taken captive.

Almost a year later, on Day 330, the IDF announced that Hersh had been murdered by Hamas in a tunnel in Gaza, along with five other young people later known as the Beautiful Six. Despite the devastating loss of their son, Rachel and Jon continued their advocacy on behalf of the remaining hostages and their families. Their efforts continued until the last hostage was recovered on January 26, 2026, Day 843.

Rachel was born and raised in Chicago and lives in Jerusalem. She and her husband Jon are the parents of three children.