Hapoel Jerusalem unveils new soccer jersey honoring the memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin
The club’s jersey honors Goldberg-Polin as ‘a child of light, love and peace
Fans display banners for Hersh Goldberg-Polin at the Israeli Premier League match between Hapoel Hadera and Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium, Aug. 31, 2024, in Jerusalem. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
(JTA) — Hapoel Jerusalem F.C., a soccer club in Israel’s capital, has unveiled a new jersey honoring its late ardent fan Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was killed by Hamas while in captivity in Gaza.
The jersey, which the club says it will wear for its “upcoming cycle,” features Goldberg-Polin’s face on the front, surrounded by the phrases “May your memory be a revolution” and “a child of light, love and peace” in Hebrew. The “revolution” line is a reference to the eulogy delivered by Jon Polin, his father, at Goldberg-Polin’s funeral on Monday in Jerusalem.
במילות ההספד של ג׳ון גולדברג-פולין, חולצת המשחק שלנו למחזור הקרוב pic.twitter.com/HIyDVOIMec
— Hapoel Jerusalem FC (@HapoelJLMfc) September 4, 2024
Goldberg-Polin, 23, was one of six slain hostages Israeli troops discovered in Gaza on Saturday, shortly after they had been killed by Hamas . Goldberg-Polin was taken hostage at the Nova music festival during Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7.
The California native became a Hapoel fan shortly after moving to Israel as a child and quickly became a fixture in the stands, where he was frequently seen, shirtless, leading the crowd in chants. He was also a member of the Malha Brigade, the team’s official fan club.
Hapoel, which was founded as part of Israel’s labor movement in 1926 and is fan-owned, has a distinct left-leaning ideology and following, an identity that appeared to appeal to Goldberg-Polin. His mother Rachel once described the club as “a social justice club that happened to have been attached to a soccer team.”
Immediately following Goldberg-Polin’s capture on Oct. 7, Hapoel was an active participant in calls for the release of the hostages. The team frequently used its social media channels to advocate for Goldberg-Polin’s release, and his face and name were common sights on signs and banners at home games. The team also shared live coverage from Goldberg-Polin’s funeral.
Prior to the team’s first game on Aug. 31 — hours before news broke that Goldberg-Polin’s body had been found in Gaza — his parents, who had become global faces of the movement advocating for the hostages’ release, addressed the fans in a video message.
“Shalom, Hapoel fans and friends of Hersh,” Rachel Goldberg-Polin said in the video. “We, Hersh’s parents, thank you so much — for everything. Hapoel fans, players, owners, employees – everyone.”
Now, the team’s beloved “friend in the stands” will be proudly represented on players’ chests. Hapoel Jerusalem is currently in 10th place in the Israeli Premier League, the country’s top-tier soccer league, and plays its next match Sept. 14 against Hapoel Haifa.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
