Israeli democracy month continues with in-school workshops and public exhibits about the life, assassination and legacy of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin z”l
Dror Israel educators have been travelling around the country busily running workshops in schools with our mobile exhibit about Rabin – his commitment to the country and all its people, his two terms as prime minister, his successes as defense minister, his vision for peace, and the atmosphere of incitement in Israel leading up to his assassination.
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.
Today’s teens were born after Rabin’s time, and to them peace often seems like a naïve dream, and today’s polarized and violent public discourse is a given. Dissecting these issues helps the students imagine that something better is possible and understand that they can make a difference. The discussions also took on new meaning this year in the wake of the current contentious election cycle.
These workshops have reached thousands of students in hundreds of schools throughout Israel in order to commemorate the anniversary of Rabin’s assassination on November 4th.
Yitzhak Rabin z”l Remembrance Tents are also erected in public places throughout the country, inviting both local residents and school groups in for challenging conversations. The tents present a portable exhibit about the life and death of Rabin, and challenge the visitors to take a stand and commit to strengthening Israeli democracy. In the evenings, the tents host community events with interesting speakers, performances and discussion groups connected to the topics raised by the exhibits.
Dror Israel activities this month, including the school workshops, remembrance tents, and the local and national Israeli Assemblies – work to bring people together towards preserving and strengthening Israeli democracy.