Tri-State Area families whose loved ones were taken hostage by Hamas continue speaking out
NEW YORK -- The Israel Defense Forces says more than 200 hostages are still in the hands of Hamas, and some of them are toddlers, teens and young adults with ties to our area.
Their families spent Tuesday speaking out and attending a powerful evening service on the East Side.
"He looked composed and in shock, but from that I took some strength and I continue to say I hope that it's carrying him forward," said Jon Polin, whose son was taken hostage.
Polin and Rachel Golgberg speak of new video discovered of their son, 23-year-old Hersh Golgberg-Polin, formerly of Connecticut. He's seen being ordered by Hamas into the back of a pickup truck with just one arm. This was after he fled the music festival massacre and hid in a bomb shelter that was attacked by terrorists.
- Related story: Israeli hostage released by Hamas, Yocheved Lifshitz, talks about ordeal, and why she shook her captor's hand
Polin and Golgberg joined Flatbush-born father Ruby Chen at Central Synagogue on Tuesday evening. Chen's 19-year-old son, Itay, is missing.
"He was at a base near Nahal Oz ... He was protecting a solvent part of Israel," Chen said. "The last thing we know is he was active in the field at 9 a.m."
The synagogue's rabbi said a chair with Israel's flag will remain empty until all the hostages are returned home.
Some of the families flew to New York just to speak at the United Nations earlier Tuesday.
"We're not satisfied knowing that it's been 17 days and nothing's been moving," said Orna Neutra, whose son was taken hostage.
The family of Long Island native Omer Neutra pleaded to world leaders to rescue their children.
"We have not heard anything from anybody," Orna Neutra said.
The United Jewish Appeal (UJA) has raised more than $115 million to help Israel and rebuild kibbutz communities destroyed.
"The inhumanity ... We need people to remember this," said Eric Goldstein, executive director of the UJA Federation of New York. "Getting every single hostage home has to remain an extraordinary priority for our elected leadership."
The families are asking residents to contact their political representatives daily to keep the issue at the forefront.
