Freed Israeli hostage Or Levy credits murdered Hersh Goldberg-Polin for helping him survive Hamas captivity
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The freed Israeli hostage, Or Levy, who was released earlier this month, has credited the slain American-Israeli hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, for helping him survive in Hamas captivity, Hersh’s parents revealed at the United Israel Appeal (UIA) New South Wales Stars of David Gala in Australia on Sunday night.
Hersh’s father, John Polin, revealed that what helped Levy to stay alive, was Hersh’s "slight mistranslation of Viktor Frankl and Nietzsche – if you have the why, you'll find the how."
“Or told us that the mantra saved him,” Polin said.
Hamas terrorists kidnapped Goldberg-Polin, Levy, and Cohen on Oct. 7, 2023, abducting them together into the Gaza Strip.
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Goldberg-Polin's parents became vocal global voices on behalf of securing the release of their son and the other hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
In June, the families of Goldberg-Polin, Or Levy and Eliya Cohen agreed to publish new footage showing the brutal kidnapping of the three Israelis on Oct. 7.
“The harsh video is a serious indictment of the neglect that has been going on for 262 days,” the Hostages Forum said in response.
“Hersh, Eliya and Or were kidnapped alive and so they have to return, today. Every day that passes endangers the hostages and may torpedo the ability to bring them home,” the forum warned.
However, in late August, Hamas terrorists murdered Goldberg-Polin and fellow hostages Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, Carmel Gat and Ori Danino. In early September, the Israeli military confirmed that it had retrieved the bodies of the six murdered Israeli hostages.
Following his release, Levy met with Goldberg-Polin's parents and shared his experiences with their son during their captivity. The two were later separated, likely due to Goldberg-Polin's injuries.
“The three boys went one direction, and Hersh, who had been bleeding out, was put somewhere else,” Polin said. He revealed that Levy had told him that he initially believed that Hersh was dead much earlier as the Hamas terrorists covered him with a blanket and moved him to another place.
Levy and Goldberg-Polin were later reunited in captivity and spent over two days together in a subterranean tunnel. It was reportedly during this time that Or became inspired by Hersh’s mantra and determined to survive for the sake of his young son who remained in Israel. “He had to get home for his son,” Polin assessed.
Levy, who is an IT programmer from the Israeli town of Givatayim, survived against all odds after 16 months of being held hostage. He was eventually reunited with his son Almog who was only two years old when his father was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.
His wife Einav was murdered by terrorists during the massacre at the Nova music festival in Rei’im, close to the Gaza border. During his long captivity, Levy's family took care of his son.
"Daddy got lost and wants to come back as soon as possible," Levy's family told his Almog as they feared he would lose both parents and become an orphan.
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The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.