We're thinking a lot about democracy today, and not just because Americans are heading to the polls to choose between President Trump and Joe Biden. We're thinking about democracy because tomorrow marks the 25 year anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, z"l. It's been 25 years since the world was rocked by a shocking act of violence by one Jew against another. Rabin's murder plunged the peace process into chaos and the Jewish and international community into grief, and the lacuna left in the wake of his leadership is still felt to this day, as peace seems further away than ever.
How to think about this loss, so many years later? As you stand in line at the polls or wait anxiously for results, we invite you to read these essays, which represent a breadth of opinion on who Rabin was and what his legacy means today. From the perspective of 25 years, our writers reflect upon the impact of Rabin's life and work, and where we can go from here.
These fifteen essays were curated in partnership with BINA: The Jewish Movement for Social Change. The Forward also co-hosted a conversation last week about the health of Israel's democracy; click here to watch the video.
Let's lay the myth to rest: Rabin wouldn't have brought peace. Einat Wilf Israeli author and former Member of Knesset Einat Wilf argues that the myth that the prospect for peace died with Rabin perpetuates another false belief: that the Palestinian people have no say over their destiny.
Rabin's contribution was recognizing us as partners. Don't erase it. Muhammad Shehada Palestinian journalist and Forward contributing columnist Muhammad Shehada argues that despite Rabin’s checkered legacy, we cannot let today’s politicians bury his revolutionary act: engaging with Palestinians as equals.
Rabin's Jewish-Arab alliance was a democratic revolution. We must reclaim it. Odeh Basharat Journalist Odeh Basharat argues that the fear that the right-wing stokes over any possible collaboration with the Joint List continues to prevent a majority from deposing Netanyahu.
Have we learned nothing from our most divided time? Shmuel Yilma Ethiopian-Israeli writer and organizer Shmuel Yilma worries that the alienation, condescension and racism that preceded Rabin's murder are all getting worse again today.
As a child of Israel's periphery, I learned from Rabin we must be equal — and we must be one. Michael Biton Israeli Minister of Civil and Social Affairs, Michael Biton remembers Rabin’s assassination as one of the pivotal moments of his life.
Looking back, I see how far my haredi community has come. Avigayil Heilbronn Israeli haredi activist Avigayil Heilbronn, was too young to remember Rabin’s killing. What she learned when she asked members of her community about the event startled her.
We are on the precipice of another violent divide. We must overcome our divisions. Zack Bodner CEO of the Palo Alto JCC Zack Bodner warns that the murder of Yitzhak Rabin was not the first time a Jew murdered another Jew for ideological reasons, and worries it may not be the last.
Religious fundamentalism is still our biggest threat. Eran Baruch Israeli activist Eran Baruch argues that today, the Jewish-democratic State of Israel is at another critical juncture.
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