Hundreds gathered in Jerusalem’s Baka neighborhood to complete a new Torah scroll dedicated to hostages in Gaza. The project was initiated by Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, parents of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, as part of a Week of Goodness to inspire kindness.

Scribe Akiva Garber completed the last 120 letters, each dedicated to a hostage. Jon Polin and his wife symbolically supported the scribe as he finished.

Rachel Goldberg-Polin reflected on their last celebration on October 6, the night before the October 7 Hamas attack, recalling plans that never came to be..

“The last time I stood in this courtyard was on October 6, when we celebrated with the Hakhel community. We danced with the Torah,” Goldberg-Polin said in her remarks, referring to the Simhat Torah celebrations attended by her and her family, including Hersh, the night before the October 7 Hamas attack. “My plan was to return the next morning, but that was not to be,” Rachel said.