Remembering Yitzhak Rabin as Intolerance and Violence Grow

The annual memorial ceremony in the Orthodox synagogue named in memory of Rabin was organised by NIF grantee 12 Heshvan: Promoting Tolerance in an Orthodox Context. The event was attended by Israeli politicians including Minister for Defence Matan Vilnai, MK Zevulun Orlev, Rehovot Mayor Rahamim Malul and Rehovot Chief Rabbi Simcha Kook.

"The politicians all made their speeches," recalls Sherman Rosenfeld, a 12 Heshvan (the Hebrew date of Rabin's assassination) activist and veteran at the Synagogue, "But what really touched me was the speeches by members of the different youth groups who spoke so eloquently about the need for tolerance and to work against violence."

"Remembering Rabin becomes more important as each year passes. It is more important because many of the young people who spoke at the ceremony were babies or not even alive when Rabin was murdered. We must remind them about Rabin's strength and commitment to defending Israel, striving for peace and protecting democracy."

Rosenfeld also stressed that remembering Rabin this year took on a new significance in light of the spate of anti-democratic legislation being introduced in the Knesset as well as the "price tag" terror attacks directed at Arabs in Israel and the West Bank. Chillingly, the memorial to Yitzhak Rabin in Tel Aviv on the spot where he was murdered was daubed with "price tag" terror graffiti several weeks ago.

Rosenfeld was a member of the solidarity delegation which visited the burned-out mosque in the Galilee village of Tuba Zangaria last month following the "price tag" terror arson there.