It's the day that triggered sleepless nights turned on the phone immediately. Two Whatsapps popped up and they were from 8, 11 consecutive Whatsapps. And the first one said, I love you. And the second one said, I'm sorry. After sirens blared throughout Israel, these messages flooded Rachel Goldberg's phone. They were from her son Hirsch m my throat like closed and my stomach clenched up. The second message was very haunting and I knew something was wrong. 23 year old Hirsch Goldberg, Poland who spent his childhood in Richmond was taken as *** hostage during Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7th. Hirsch was attending *** music festival when the attack occurred. Witnesses described to Goldberg what happened moments before Hearst was loaded into *** truck. They started to throw in hand grenades and then they fired in an RPG and then they just came in and sprayed the room with machine gun fire. Video showed *** part of Hirsch's arm had been blown off, wrapped in *** tourniquet before he was hauled away at least to have actual footage of the kidnapping. So that was very important evidence to have. The footage is the last piece of evidence. Rachel and her family have as proof Hirsch is still alive. We feel like we have to run to the end of the earth to try to save this boy's life. Rachel and her husband John have traveled all over the world shining light on Hirsch's capture, praying for his release and pushing for the aid he needs Billy. It's *** trauma and but I also have to sort of separate myself from being in constant terror and trauma and angst and despair and anguish and being *** human being because I need to save him. And in order to do that, I need to be functioning. Hirsch lives his adult life as *** soccer lover and peacemaker, working with *** youth organization in Israel which brings Israeli Jews and Muslim Arab Children together to worlds that are often divided. However, when it comes to his childhood kids, as you know, like their childhood memories are really steeped in Richmond Hirsch went to Weinstein JCC for preschool and Rutland Tour Academy here in the River City. The support from the Richmond community has *** special place in Rachel's heart. From the moment this happened. The Richmond community has been so loving and supportive and active and advocating and that's the most important thing. Rachel says the biggest torture she faces is waiting and the unknown, but she holds onto her faith at *** time where it guides her to believe in *** shining light. And the the message of Hanukkah is that there was *** little bit of light and instead of diminishing it grew.