Hello everyone,
We have received a number of requests, ever since Itzak Rabin was shot, for our feelings/reactions. Until now, the pain has been too great. We have not been able to absorb it all, let alone try to express ourselves to others.
Now, after the funeral, after we have talked among ourselves, I asked my students if they felt ready to write something and have their words passed on to you who have written us.
My grade 9 students wrote the following letters. My grade 12 students may write later. They seem to be still finding it too hard.
I am sending the grade 9 letters to the KIDLEADR list, so that those of you who wrote us, and others interested in knowing the feelings of our youth, will at least be able to read these messages.
Thank you all for your messages of condolence to our nation.
David Lloyd
The High School For Environmental Studies
Sde-Boker, Israel
Itzhak Rabin is dead.
I don't really know how to express my feelings. I can't even believe that the man I saw on t.v. and heard about on the radio is gone. Itzhak Rabin was a man that had a lot of courage in making peace. He was so close to having what he fought for, and then in less than a minute it was all gone. The man that was so strong and that sacrificed his life for our country is dead. I think that maybe Itzhak Rabin is dead but his spirit and his beliefs are still with us. And with our faith in him we can continue the peace process.
Bye
Simona
It's so sad. I just started to realize what's going to be from now. I was always raised in a family where peace is the most important thing ant that we would give everything for it. Then Rabin comes and he starts to do something about it, and you feel a change, but then in 2-3 seconds everything blows away.
Rabin gave us an idea of something and what the killer didn't understand is that ideas you cannot kill!
Eynat Berliner
The killing of Rabin is the lowest point a human can reach. Personally, I didn't agree with all of his opinions, but still his death was, and still is, a very tragic event.
From the moment he died people started to understand what an enormous place he took in our lives - he gave hope for peace, security and most of all, better life.
I still can't understand how a person who gave so much for this country (not only politically) can be killed by "one" man. One crazy man has taken from us hope, which here means everything.
I was playing the computer when my parents, who were watching t.v., called me. I didn't come at once, only one or two minutes later. When I came, they told me, "harguu et Rabin" - "They killed Rabin." At first I didn't believe them. I stood there for a few seconds without saying anything (I thought to say to them, "What are you talking about?" or "What? Is this a joke?") But I said nothing.
Then I walked towards them and looked at the t.v. and then I understood it was not a joke. Even then I found it hard to believe, and even now I find it hard to believe, but I know it is true. I am not very sentimental about these things. I am not the kind of person who cries every time people are killed in a terrorist attack (and I sometimes hate myself fo being so heartless), but this was different. I wasn't crying, but I couldn't do anything, so I just walked at home sad and depressed, without doing anything, except watching t.v. a little.
I think it is better that way than if he was killed by an Arab, because now it helped the peace process and the other way it might have totally ruined it.
Ehud Zemel
I was in my bed, half-sleeping, when someone said that Rabin was assassinated. I thought that this is my imagination so I kept sleeping. In the morning I woke up and thought it was a dream and then my step-father came into my room and said, "Rabin was assassinated yesterday." For an instant I couln't believe him but then I heard on the t.v. Rabin was killed yesterday in a rally against violence and for peace. For a second I thought that a terrorist from Hamas killed him. I couldn't believe that one of his own people would kill him. Although we have arguments about the peace process (the right and the left) it doesn't justify the action of killing a man because of his opinions.
Rabin was a great man that succeeded in bringing us many steps towards peace in the Middle East. This man that killed Rabin didn't stop the peace process. He only hurt this country and her people.
Lior Shahaf
To the people of the world,
Hi, or should I say shalom? My name is Ayelet Barg. I'm an Israeli girl and I thought you should know what I feel - I feel like hell - I feel the floor was taken from under my legs - I don't have a roof over my head and I feel like someone came and shot a part of me. These feelings are for one reason - there is no longer Yitzhak Rabin. The prime minister was a great man who did a lot for the peace and for Israel. He was always a part of my life since he has always been in the political world. Always. And now he is gone. You know always that in the Israeli newspaper there is a quote of Rabin, and now - no more.
The person who did it, Igal Amir, should die. I know this is inhuman to write but what he did is even more inhuman because he killed the prime minister, a family man, a big hero in Israel and a person who made the Middle East take a big step towards peace. I'm so sorry he died. If you saw yesterday - 6.11.95 - the funeral, you saw his granddaughter talking. I'm sorry for her and her family. I wish there will be no more killing. But I know that can't be. So I just hope there will be nothing worse than this.
Ayelet Barg
(The following was written by a boy from Russia who has been in Israel for a short time as his father is a visiting scientist here)
When I heard about the Rabin murder I was shocked, like many others. I couldn't understand, how it can be in Israel, in such a friendly country, when everybody, I thought, can understand and support each other.
Anyway, he was a national hero, a man who dedicated his life to the world peace process in the Middle East, to the world, to Israel.
I'm sorry about the man. I wish to express my condolences to the family. I can't say a lot, but the matter that one Jew killed another - it's terrible, it's not the democracy.
When I saw the funeral I was crying. Why, I don't know.. but I understand Israeli people.
Vladimir Katz