Remembering Rabin 20 years on
RINAT Kedem-Bart sat with her father in front of a TV set and cried for what seemed like a week. Despite the passage of 20 years, the memory of their reaction to the news of Yitzhak Rabin’s murder remains fresh in the Australasian Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) representative’s mind.
RINAT Kedem-Bart sat with her father in front of a TV set and cried for what seemed like a week. Despite the passage of 20 years, the memory of their reaction to the news of Yitzhak Rabin’s murder remains fresh in the Australasian Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) representative’s mind.
“We went together that same evening to Rabin’s house, lit candles, and shared the next days with what felt, at that time, as the entire nation,” recalled Kedem-Bart.
Rabin was fatally shot by Yigal Amir, an Israeli ultra-nationalist, at a rally in Tel Aviv in support of the Oslo Accords, on November 4, 1995.
For Kedem-Bart, like many Israelis, the assassination was a life-changing event. Rather than lose hope, she said it “made me decide to be politically active at 14, joining a political youth movement, leading youth, organising rallies”.
Victorian Betar shaliach Avi Michaeli was 16 years old at the time of Rabin’s assassination. He was motivated to become an educator and was most recently director of Mechinat Gal, one of 48 mechinot (academies) in Israel today.
“Rabin had a vision that Israel’s security was not dependent only on the strength of the IDF”, said Michaeli. “The strength and optimism of Israeli society was what he believed would keep Israel safe and secure. The mechina system [founded in Rabin’s memory] has imbued values such as solidarity, tolerance, freedom of speech and human dignity in the leaders of our future.”
Melbourne’s Jewish community will gather on October 25 to commemorate 20 years since the assassination of Rabin.
The commemoration is being planned by Zionism Victoria (ZV), the Australasian Union of Jewish Students, HaBayit, JAFI shlichim, the United Israel Appeal, the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Zionist Youth Council of Victoria.
It will include musical presentations, testimonies from community members and shira b’tzibur (communal singing).
ZV communications manager Eileen Freed said the program will provide an opportunity to reminisce about and honour the slain leader’s life, particularly in relation to the history of Israel.
“Also recalled will be the difficult period following his assassination, which had a strong impact on a generation of youth, known as the dor ha’neirot, generation of the candles, after the candlelight vigils which were held throughout the country.”
The commemoration for Yitzhak Rabin will take place on Sunday, October 25, 7.30pm, at the Beth Weizmann Community Centre. Those who wish to share their story should contact Daniella Gozlan, dgozlan@zcv.org.au; (03) 9272 5507.
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