5 minute read
Run for Their Lives: A Community's Walk for Hostages' Freedom
October 2024
By Chris Guidice
After hearing the chant of “Bring Him Home” reverberate throughout the venue at the Democratic National Convention, Rachel Goldberg-Polin spoke eloquently to her son, Hersh, then held in captivity in Gaza, and the rest of the 109 hostages when she said, “The time is now! Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you. Stay strong. Survive!” A soft touch. A warm embrace. A comforting message of hope. A brief smile of reassurance. For more than eleven months, the remaining hostages in Gaza have had no access to such sensations.
An unending hope remains, though it is now mixed with profound grief. Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages were found murdered in Gaza after nearly a year of captivity. Rachel’s plea for her son at the DNC now stands as a tragic reminder of the urgency that came too late for him and others. At his funeral, she tearfully said, “My sweet boy, finally, finally, finally you are free.” Hersh’s death, along with the others, is a devastating loss, but the hope persists for the 101 hostages still being held — We won’t give up.
To reinforce that message of hope and ensure that those still held captive are not forgotten, members of the Charlotte Jewish community walk each Sunday to keep the spirit of the hostages alive. The walk is part of a Run For Their Lives initiative that began in Palo Alto, CA. The participants wave U.S. and Israeli flags and display posters of hostages to pledge their support.
“There are a lot of ways to show your support for the hostages,” said Rachel Berendt, who has three sons currently serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). “This is one of the most simple and hopeful ways to do it. I light a candle every Friday and wear a bracelet, but for one hour, I am focused on this walk.”
The walk, which starts at the Dunkin Donuts in Strawberry Hill every Sunday at 9 a.m., has witnessed a constant stream of supporters that has included friends, entire families, and even IDF soldiers. One can find beauty in a small gesture, strength in resilience, and when it comes to the group’s identity, Berendt sees the diversity of the group as a unifying force.
“It reminds people that this is not a political issue, that this is a humanitarian issue,” she said. “And that no matter if you are a baby in a stroller or an elder being pushed in a wheelchair, we are all coming together for one cause, which is to bring the hostages home right away.”
The Run For Their Lives initiative stipulates that members walk or run for at least 18 minutes and wear the color red. The number 18 represents the Hebrew word “chai” or life, while the color red symbolizes the “bleeding hearts of loved ones still held captive.”
Both aspects of the initiative represent something very powerful.
“It’s nice to see families doing this together. We’ve met a lot of new people. It’s a group of Jews, and not everyone is even Jewish,” said Richard Goldsmith, a member of the group who regularly joins with his wife, Lynne. “It’s important that even the young kids are out here. It’s an education. It’s something… we’re trying to get a message out.”
That “message” is clear: “We won’t stop walking until every single hostage is back home.” Even though the group only meets once a week, the influx of new members combined with a host of regular supporters provides a nice balance as they work together to keep the focus on the hostages. The group will not waver in its commitment to keeping the hostages’ memories alive and never backing down. Educating others, however, is never easy. Not everyone grasps the magnitude of the hostage situation so walkers are urged to explain the group’s mission.
When addressing the group’s impact, Galia Lapidot, who regularly comes to the walk with her husband, Tomer, and daughter, Daria, accentuates its strengths: “It’s great, especially when people honk their horns, because people leave with a sense of community -- we are a group,” she said. “It shows them that we did something small for today. It makes them feel better for the rest of the week, showing that there are people willing to do something if we need them to. Hopefully, we will have more.”
For some, the hostage situation hits close to home. Some members either know a hostage or are connected in some way. In fact, one of the remaining hostages, Keith Siegel, is from North Carolina.
Although the group typically averages 30 walkers, one day in June helped remind everyone how devoted and united the Charlotte Jewish community truly is. More than a hundred community members participated in a Worldwide March for the Hostages that coincided with similar walks around the country. Members walked side by side in solidarity – it was an unforgettable moment that encapsulated the devotion to helping the cause in any way possible.
“This is just a basic reminder that this is happening,” said Berendt. “Unless you are in the mainstream media, it’s very easy to forget about our hostages.”
Judging by the unity and strength of this Charlotte group, they will not forget anytime soon.
