TBS News and Information

Thirty years ago this week – November 4, 1995 – Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing Jewish extremist who was opposed to the peace process Israel was pursuing with the Palestinians and its Arab neighbors. Rabin was gunned down in Tel Aviv as he left a massive rally for peace. His final public words were ones of peace.

Thirty years ago this week, I was living in Jerusalem for my first year of rabbinic school. Several of my classmates had been at the Tel Aviv rally but had left early. Together we watched and experienced as Israel went through some of its darkest days. The whole country was in shock and mourning. We joined throngs of Israelis to file past Rabin’s casket as he lay in state at the Knesset. We stood on the street when the air raid sirens marked the two-minute national moments of silence, as all traffic, commerce, schools, the entire nation stopped in its tracks, held its breath, and wept.

On the day of the funeral, November 6, we gathered in clusters, in apartments with televisions (this was pre-internet), with Israeli friends, with the worldwide Jewish community. We marveled at the array of international leaders who attended, who spoke, who never would have imagined being in Israel until this horrific event compelled their presence. We sobbed with Rabin’s family and the eloquence of their words. We followed along with the Hebrew of the speakers as best we could or listened to whatever English broadcast we could find. When President Clinton spoke, we understood clearly – “Shalom, chaver,” “Goodbye, friend.”

We worried about what would become of the peace process Rabin had inaugurated and carefully shepherded. Sadly, thirty years later, it seems we were right to be worried. There is no way to know, of course, what would have happened had Rabin lived. Would we be closer to his vision of peace? Would we have better heeded his admonition, “Enough of blood and tears! Enough!”

May those who still share Rabin’s dream, those who still seek calm and co-existence, continue to be inspired by Rabin’s example. May we honor, by our own hopes and efforts, the warrior who worked for peace.

Zichrono l’vracha, may Yitzhak Rabin’s memory always be for a blessing.