Honoring the Memory of Yitzhak Rabin z’’l with Remembrance Tents
Throughout the month of October, tents are popping up all over Israel. Called “remembrance tents,” they house an educational exhibit designed and created by Dror Israel about the life, assassination and legacy of Yitzhak Rabin z”l and serve as a platform for conversations about Israeli democracy.
The murder of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 was a somber wake up call for Israeli society – laying bare the deep schisms in political and religious life in the country, as well as the consequences of political incitement and disregarding the rules of democracy.
Educators from Dror Israel knew that it was important to keep telling this story, and never forget either the legacy of Rabin’s actions for peace nor the lessons learned following his assassination. The goals of these educational activities are not only to honor the memory of Yitzhak Rabin, but also to foster open and honest discussion about the ability of Israeli society to contain disagreement within the bounds of democracy. Since 2005, the tents have hosted tens of thousands of visitors throughout the country, the vast majority school groups.
The tent’s exhibit and guided discussion are led by Dror Israel educators.The exhibit tells the story of Yitzhak Rabin’s life, highlighting dilemmas he faced as a career soldier turned politician who fought for peace.
The exhibit shines light on the schism in Israeli society surrounding the Oslo peace accords. This helps students understand the atmosphere in the period leading up to the murder and gives an opportunity for adults to share their memories. Through multimedia aids, the students explore different expressions of dissent and examine the line between legitimate protest and violent incitement.
The end goal of the exhibit and discussions is for the visitors to understand their role in protecting and strengthening Israeli democracy.
36 tents are being set up in a variety of locations - from city centers to schools to kibbutzim. The activities in each tent will reflect the needs of the surrounding community. The flagship tent in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv will also host a night of discussion and artistic performances for young adults, while the exhibit in the northern city of Carmiel will be led by high school members of the HaNoar HaOved youth movement after training and preparation with Dror educators.