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Family of man taken hostage by Hamas 'continuing to pray' that he comes home alive

A view of Israeli troops along Israel's southern border with Gaza on Dec. 22, 2023, in Southern Israel.
A view of Israeli troops along Israel's southern border with Gaza on Dec. 22, 2023, in southern Israel.
Amir Levy/Getty Images

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The mother of a man who was taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza believes he is still alive.

Rachel Polin, a former Chicagoan now living in Jerusalem, said she has heard nothing about her son, Hirsch, while some other families have learned that their loved ones taken hostage have died.


"Our understanding is that those families have been notified," Polin said. "We do not have any news about Hirsch. We are continuing to pray that he stays strong, survives and comes home alive."

Her son was in a bomb shelter at a music festival that was attacked.

His father, Jonathan Polin, spoke just after the October attack. He had heard from some who escaped. They said his son saved lives.

"As grenades were being thrown in, they were tossing them back out," he said.

Hirsch lost part of an arm below the elbow.

He made a tourniquet with a shirt and was last seen being taken away in a pick-up truck.

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