NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, formed by families of Hamas-held hostages less than 24 hours after the Oct. 7 terror attack in southern Israel, has released the "Shavuot of Longing: Their Recipes On Our Table" cookbook, featuring hostages' favorite dishes and pegged to the upcoming Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
Included in the cookbook is Hersh Goldberg-Polin's recipe for his favorite chocolate chip cookies. Born to Chicago natives Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, the 23-year-old Berkeley, California-born hostage was kidnapped from the Nova music festival.
"Hersh is a true people person -- authentic, positive and full of ideas," reads a description of Hersh, who was recently seen with one of his arms severely injured from a Hamas grenade in a propaganda video released by the group, in the cookbook. "He is a devoted superfan of the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball and football teams. Hersh loves to study, read, listen to music, attend parties, and travel abroad."
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the cookbook -- available in hard copy for a $45 donation or in digital format for a $15 donation -- "connects us through the heart and stomach to our dear brothers and sisters." It was published in collaboration with Be'eri Print.
The Forum further explains, "The book contains 75 recipes spread across 180 pages, including their most beloved dishes. From the pastry they start their mornings with, to the warming winter soup, to the dessert that sweetens their hearts."
Hamas killed more than 1,200 people of varying nationalities during its attack, and abducted another 250 people. As of Tuesday, the Israeli government said 120 remain in captivity, 43 of whom have been declared dead in absentia by Israeli officials based on various sources of information, including intelligence tip-offs, CCTV or bystander videos and forensic analysis.
Shavuot is a two-day holiday -- beginning the evening of June 11 -- which commemorates the Jewish people receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. Common practices on the holiday include eating dairy foods, such as cheesecake.