This past week marked 15 years since the horrific assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. I can remember very clearly when I received the news on a Shabbat afternoon sitting in my dorm room at Washington University. A group of friends and I, shocked, bewildered, and extremely saddened, made our way over to the Hillel house to seek comfort in the presence of community. We cried together, shared our hopes and fears about Israel together, and began to work together to create a memorial for Prime Minister Rabin on campus.
In the days that followed, there was an expression that caught the attention of the world after they were offered by President Clinton at Rabin’s funeral: “Shalom Chaver.” These two small words carried great power, with a double meaning that could be interpreted as both, “Goodbye, Friend,” and, “Peace, Friend.”
It is painful to recognize that the past fifteen years have not yet seen the peace between Israel and her neighbors that was Rabin’s dream. The reasons for this are complex and bring out strong emotions in all of us. But as we recall Rabin’s legacy, let us remember that he died a courageous leader in the pursuit of peace and let us challenge ourselves to live our lives in the pursuit of peace as well.
As American Jews, we have a responsibility to stay informed about the current situation in Israel. Keep up with the latest news and developments by reading Israeli newspapers (all major papers appear in English online) or by receiving regular updates via e-mail (very easy to sign up for updates at http://www.dailyalert.org/). And, remembering the tragic circumstances of Rabin’s death, when the subject of Israel and Israeli politics comes up, we must remember to engage one another in a thoughtful and civil way that allows us to hear and learn from one another. These matters are nuanced and complex, and no one of us has a claim on loving Israel the most.
Chaver, the world misses you, but we will do our best to live our lives in a way that honors your memory. Yehe Zichrono Barukh, may Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s memory be for a blessing.
For more, see last week’s NY Times opinion piece by President Bill Clinton: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/04/opinion/04clinton.html?_r=1&ref=opinion