It was Saturday afternoon, 15 years ago, November of 1995. I was driving to my then home in
Suddenly something unusual caught my attention: Larry Cantor at the editor desk asked Lee Harris at the news desk to put Jay Bushinsky on the air for a special report from…Tel Aviv. Jay’s report was only three short sentences. I remember each word: “Shootings were heard in the Tel Aviv square where a large gathering was held. Prime Minister Rabin was rushed to the hospital. Back to you, Lee.” That very moment, I somehow knew that our Prime Minister was assassinated by a Jew. I simply knew it. I turned my head to my six and 10-year-old sons who were playing with their Gameboys in the back seat, and told them with the most serious voice and dramatic tone I could gather: “Kids, stop everything and listen to me: you will remember this moment for the rest of your lives. Our leader Yitzhak Rabin was just murdered.”
Yitzhak Rabin
At home, through CNN and a flood of telephone calls, I learned the horrifying details. Max Kleinman was one of the first people I called. As he wrote in his recent blog, I caught him in the midst of a birthday party and we had to change a “major gifts” event planned for the following night. Talia Lador Frescher from the Israeli Consulate in
A month later, there was a commemoration ceremony at
Leah Rabin, Shimon Peres, Al Gore, Aviv Gefen, and our own Steven Flatow were among the people on the stage at the tribute ceremony. The hall was packed and it took us forever to find a seat. When I finally sat down, I realized that sitting in the chair next to me was the same Shlomo Ben Asher who hosted my family for Shabbat lunch on the day of the assassination.
Wait, this is not the end of the story. Fast forward several years. I am back home running the MetroWest Israel office; Shlomo Ben Asher is back home working as a tour guide. I am taking a group of MetroWest visitors to see
Amram Mitzna, a retired IDF General, was elected in 1993 as mayor of
Amram Mitzna
A few years later, Tzvika Greengold, a businessman and a war hero of
Tzvika Greengold
Mitzna’s term has just ended after five successful years, when municipal elections were held in town. Tzvika is still serving and trying to promote his/our vision. The newly elected mayor of Yerucham is a greatly talented young man, a friend, and a colleague. Michael Biton (40) grew up in Yerucham, served as the director of the local matnas (community center), worked as director of Partnership 2000, and recently as the Israeli representative of the Canadian Jewish community. He brings to Yerucham the exact new spirit that Ofakim is seeking. A group of 20 young adults from Ofakim are now attending a special leadership training program at the
Michael Biton
Good luck to Mitzna in his next endeavors. Good luck to Biton in his new assignment. Good luck to Greengold in accomplishing his vision. Good luck to the young leadership group of Ofakim in taking over. Good luck to all of us in developing local and national leadership. It is soooo needed.
Drishat Shalom
Amir
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