SUPPORT AMID THE SADNESS SUNDAY. HUNDREDS GATHERING AT CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL IN BERKELEY MOURNING THE LOSS OF SIX HOSTAGES KILLED BY THE HAMAS TERROR GROUP, INCLUDING HERSH GOLDBERG-POLIN. >> HIS FIRST FRIENDS ARE WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY. HIS FIRST STEPS WERE TAKEN HERE IN BERKELEY, AND HIS FIRST PRAYERS WERE UTTERED IN THIS HOLY CONGREGATION. >> THE 23 YEAR OLD WAS ONE OF 240 HOSTAGES TAKEN BY HAMAS DURING ITS OCTOBER SEVENTH ATTACK ON A MUSIC FESTIVAL IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL. HIS PARENTS, SINCE MAKING IMPASSIONED PLEAS FOR HIS SAFE RETURN, INCLUDING TWO WEEKS AGO AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION. >> ANYONE WHO IS A PARENT OR HAS HAD A PARENT CAN TRY TO IMAGINE THE ANGUISH AND MISERY THAT JOHN AND I AND ALL THE HOSTAGE FAMILIES ARE ENDURING, THE PAIN THAT THEY'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH FOR ALMOST 11 MONTHS WAS SO CLEAR AND OBVIOUS. >> AND NOW, TO HEAR THE MOST TRAGIC OF HORRIFIC NEWS FOR THEM IS REALLY, REALLY, IT'S SO SAD. AND WE'RE WISHING THEM AND SENDING THEM ALL OUR STRENGTH AND SOME OF THAT STRENGTH BEING SENT IN. >> THESE MESSAGES WRITTEN FOR THE FAMILY NOW LIVING IN ISRAEL. >> IT'S AWFUL, AWFUL, DEVASTATING, IT'S NOT THE WAY WE EXPECTED THE STORY TO END. >> AARON COTLER IS A CLOSE FAMILY FRIEND. HE'LL BE TRAVELING TO ISRAEL THIS WEEK WITH THESE MESSAGES IN HAND. >> RACHEL. HIS MOTHER. HERSH'S MOTHER HAS SAID THE ENTIRE TIME THAT HOPE IS MANDATORY. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO HOPE IS DESPAIR. AND SO YOU HAVE TO STAY ON THE SIDE OF HOPE. >> MEANWHILE, THE SEARCH