“Great is the pain, and great is the shame – and which of the two is greater, say, O Man.” – H. N. Bialik.
Today marks 30 years since the assassination of prime minister and defense minister Yitzhak Rabin.
A day that once symbolized the peak of a fierce debate over Israel’s path carries an even deeper and more painful meaning this year in the shadow of the Israel-Hamas War, a war that wounded the very heart of Israeli society on many levels.
This year, more than ever, Rabin Memorial Day is an invitation to a meaningful educational conversation about our collective responsibility, as a society and as an educational community, to shape our character, to heal, and to take responsibility for Israel’s future.
Jewish tradition teaches us to distinguish between disputes for the sake of Heaven and those that are not. It argues that disagreement isn’t an obstacle but the very basis for life and growth, so long as we uphold respect, attentiveness, and humanity.
The sayings, “These and those are the words of the living God” and “There are 70 faces to the Torah,” are not only interpretive principles; they are the foundations of a culture of tolerance, pluralism, and love of humankind.
Especially in this era, when public discourse is saturated with fear, pain, and, at times, even hatred, we are called to return to these fundamentals and make the school community a space for mending, hope, and honest, brave human communication.
Importance of education
Education is fundamentally political, defined not by trivial power struggles, but by its deeper purpose: nurturing citizens capable of critical thought, ethical action, and moral responsibility. Our central mission is to help students navigate their world, pose challenging questions, take principled and courageous stands, and discover meaning in their existence.
Even today, 30 years after the assassination, we must remember that a humanistic education that avoids difficult questions forfeits its very soul. We must not shy away from addressing moral, social, and civic issues; we must talk about ethics, democracy, human rights, equality, and justice. Taking a clear stand against exclusion, racism, and violence is not only a right; it is a moral and educational duty.
Yitzhak Rabin's message at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony holds immense relevance today. His definition of the ultimate safeguard for human life remains a vital call to action: “There is only one radical means of sanctifying human life: not armored plating, not tanks, not planes, or concrete fortresses. The one radical solution is peace. Peace safeguards the lives of those who fight for it, and it preserves the lives of civilians.”
These are not merely political statements; they express a profound moral vision that the ultimate purpose of our shared existence is to protect our humanity, even in times of war.
"What kind of country do we wish to be?"
The Israel-Hamas War shook us all, revealing both the fragility of our existence and the immense resilience, solidarity, and compassion that emerged from Israeli civil society at its finest. Amid the pain, a fundamental question arises anew: What kind of country do we wish to be?
And within our schools: What kind of graduates do we seek to nurture?
Our education system bears the enormous responsibility of shaping a generation capable of disagreement without hatred, holding to truth without harming others, and believing that our diversity is itself a source of life and blessing.
Rabin expressed this spirit of human dignity and national pride in his address after the Six Day War, when he served as IDF chief of staff:
“It is the right of the people of Israel to live their lives in their state, in peace and security, as a free and independent nation... a people who rise to the occasion in times of crisis, prevailing over every enemy through their moral, spiritual, and emotional strength.”
The true strength of a nation lies not only in its power but in its spirit and moral integrity. As the prophet Zechariah taught: “‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit,’ said the Lord of Hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)
Hope, peace, and shared responsibility
In Rabin’s final speech, delivered just before he was assassinated, he declared:
“Violence erodes the basis of Israeli democracy. It must be condemned, denounced, and isolated. This is not the way of the State of Israel.”
At this moment, three decades later, with Israeli society once more facing the abyss, our duty is to continue educating for dialogue, mutual listening, shared responsibility, hope, and peace. This mission is rooted in the profound conviction that every human being is created in the image of God, making education the truest instrument for repairing the world (tikkun olam).
May the people of Israel forever cherish the memory of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, of blessed memory. May God remember the soul of Yitzhak, son of Rosa and Nehemiah Rabin, leader, soldier, statesman, and dreamer, who was tragically torn from the world of action and vision by the bullets of one of our own.
The writer, a rabbi, is executive director of the Leo Baeck Education Center.