This poem was written 25 years ago (1995) as part of the official North American Jewish delegation to the “shloshimLit. Thirty The first thirty days after someone dies. This is an intermediate stage of mourning -- less intense than then initial week of shiva, but more intense than the remainder of the first year. It is customary not to shave or cut one's hair and not to attend social gatherings, parties, concerts etc during this time.” observances for Yitzchak Rabin in JerusalemLit. City of peace From the time of David to the Roman destruction, Jerusalem was the capital of Israel and the spiritual and governmental center of the Jewish people. During the long exile, Jews longed to return to Jerusalem and wrote poems, prayers, and songs about the beloved city. In 1967, with the capture of the Old City, Jerusalem was reunited, becoming "the eternal capital of Israel." Still, the longing for peace is unfulfilled.. I attended as president of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association at the time. The poem was also delivered on Kibbutz Ketura a year later, in Hebrew, during the first yahrzeit observance for Rabin. Kibbutz Ketura is the home of The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies that brings together Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, American and other international college-age students. The work of the Arava Institute is a direct legacy of the work and life of Rabin.
