Remembering Rabin
Jewish leaders from around the world participating in The Jewish Agency for Israel Board of Governors’ autumn meetings have observed a moment of silence in memory of slain Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin during the opening session of the Board meetings in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Natan Sharansky in cap and delegates remember Rabin Photo: Nathan Roi/Jewish Agency
Addressing the gathering, Chairman of the Executive of The Jewish Agency for Israel Natan Sharansky said: “We see here the ruins of our temple and of Jerusalem. It was the Romans who destroyed the sanctuary, but our sages say that the true cause of the destruction was sin’at hinam (baseless hatred). Twenty years ago today, Israel experienced an event that represented a nadir of sin’at hinam: the murder of a prime minister. We honor the memory of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin with a moment of silence, and we must always remember that in order to overcome the challenges that lie before us and continue to build our country, we must eradicate sin’at hinam.”
The Jewish Agency Board of Governors, comprised of Jewish organizational and communal leaders from around the world, is meeting this week (today, Sunday, October 25 through Tuesday, October 27) in Jerusalem, in what Chairman Sharansky termed “a massive expression of solidarity with the people of Israel.” Minister of Public Security, Strategic Affairs and Information Gilad Erdan addressed the opening plenary and thanked the Jewish leaders for their continued support of Israel, noting The Jewish Agency’s remarkable contributions to the Jewish world and to Israeli society.
In his address, Chairman Sharansky emphasized The Jewish Agency’s support for the people Israel in times of crisis and made special note of the Fund for Victims of Terror, which is currently assisting dozens of Israeli families thanks to contributions from The Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod-UIA, and other donors; and the UJA-Federation of New York Entrepreneurial Fund for Jerusalem, which is helping Jerusalem businesses affected by the current wave of terror attacks. He praised the Israeli security forces and reminded those in attendance that the spirit of solidarity that they bring from Jewish communities around the world had helped Israel overcome difficulties in the past and would do so now, as well.
The discussions during the three-day gathering are centering on efforts by The Jewish Agency and by world Jewry to support the people of Israel in light of the security situation, as well as on the organization’s ongoing activities aimed at strengthening the State of Israel and the Jewish world. Earlier today, representatives of Israel’s Arab, Bedouin, and Druze communities who are involved in The Jewish Agency’s efforts to promote coexistence in Israel participated in a discussion of those efforts and how they might be expanded further. The Board is also discussing the increase in Aliyah (immigration to Israel), which has resulted in the arrival of some 30,000 new immigrants in Israel this year; efforts to strengthen young Jews’ connections to Israel; programs to promote coexistence in Israel and strengthen Israel’s socioeconomic periphery; the fight against rising antisemitism and efforts to delegitimize Israel; and many other matters concerning Israel and world Jewry.
