The Jewish Education Project Hosts Talk with Polins

On Monday, Dec. 8, David Bryfman, CEO of The Jewish Education Project, moderated a conversation with Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, in which they explored hope as a driving force behind Jewish education and communal transformation. The event followed the Jewish Futures Conference, which The Jewish Education Project hosted earlier in the day. The conference was designed to spark new visions of a Jewish future rooted in optimism and resilience.

Rachel and Jon are the parents of Hersh z”l, Leebie, and Orly. Hersh Goldberg-Polin was abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival and held hostage in Gaza for nearly 11 months. In late August 2024, he was murdered by Hamas, and his body was recovered from a tunnel in Rafah two days later.

“When we think about hope, we must remember it’s mandatory. True courage to do the right thing, even when it’s hard, requires strength and action,” said Rachel Goldberg-Polin. “We’re in a real Chanukah moment, because today, like in the story of Chanukah, asking ourselves who we are, who we want to be, what we want to project to the world, and our why, are the most important questions. The real message of Chanukah is when you have darkness, just know that light exists, and each day that light intensifies. It’s up to us to add to the miracle.”

“For the Jewish educators who are in the trenches every day, I hope we can zoom out and remember that we are part of a 3,500-year chain of history. The core piece is education, giving people the tools to understand what they are a part of and what they can be proud of,” said Jon Polin.

The community-wide event was hosted by The Jewish Education Project in collaboration with The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center, UJA-Federation of New York, and RootOne.

“Rachel and Jon have exemplified strength, thoughtfulness, and fortitude in the face of unspeakable tragedy,” said Bryfman. “If they remain hopeful about the world, then certainly we all can. It was a privilege to learn from them and to hear their unique insights on how education can lead to a better world for generations to come. We’re committed to using education as a vehicle for hope and inspiration, and to helping every Jewish educator and person who cares deeply about the Jewish future to do the same.”