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PROUD VOICE OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
Grief Disbelief
5 September 2024 • 1 Ellul 5784 • Issue No.1383 •
Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin at their son’s funeral on Monday
‘My sweet boy, we tried desperately to save you’
Hersh Goldberg-Polin was 23
The family of the 23-year-old hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin were joined by thousands of mourners this week at his funeral at the Har Hamenuchot cemetery in Jerusalem, writes Jenni Frazer. The American-Israeli had been captured by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival on 7 October. He and more than 250 other hostages had been held in Gaza for nearly 11 months, although some captives were released in November. But on Sunday the tragic news broke that Goldberg-Polin and five other captives had been murdered as IDF forces sought to rescue them in the city of Rafah. Forensic tests carried out on the six showed that they had been shot in the head, within a couple of hours of the Israeli army’s presence becoming known. As nearly 8,000 people worldwide watched the funeral online, the comments boxes filled with broken-heart Continued on page 3
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Foreign Secretary David Lammy, pictured with the prime minister, announced the partial ban on Monday
Minister ‘regrets’ timing of arms ban; Chief says it ‘beggars belief’ after being elected MP for Lincoln in July, added: “I acknowledge how painful the timing was and recognise that timing will have been evocative to the British Jewish community. I really Keir Starmer yesterday defended regret the timing overlapped so the suspension of certain arms closely as it did, but the right thing export licences to Israel, after to do was proceed in a legal way.” Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said He added: “I have tried to be in the decision “beggars belief”. regular contact with as many different On the same day, in an interview with Jewish community groups as I possibly Jewish News, the Middle East minister Hamish Falconer expressed his “regret” Chief Rabbi Mirvis can. I heard on Monday and Tuesday directly from them. I want to reassure your that the announcement of the ban had been made on the same afternoon as the funerals of the six readers that this government is keen to be in regular conversation, to be listening to the Jewish community, hostages murdered last weekend by Hamas in Gaza. Speaking exclusively to Jewish News from the For- right into the Foreign Office, into No 10. We hear the eign Office, Falconer said: “I want to acknowledge the Jewish voice. I have heard the pain from the Board, pain it caused. The timing was set by a legal process from the JLC, and from several rabbis.” On Monday, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis had said it and we had to stick to it.” Continued on page 2 Falconer, handed the senior role by Starmer by Lee Harpin lee@jewishnews.co.uk @lmharpin