Rachel Rabin-Yaakov, Pioneer and Sister of Yitzhak Rabin, Laid to Rest at 101

Rachel Rabin-Yaakov, a founding member of Kibbutz Menara and the younger sister of assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, was buried on Monday at the age of 101. She passed away on Friday, just before the holiday. Approximately 200 family members and friends attended a small funeral ceremony at Kibbutz Menara, located on the Lebanese border, where Rabin-Yaakov lived for over 80 years until she was evacuated three years ago due to the ongoing war.

Her son, Yiftah, eulogized her, stating, "Today, after almost three years of a vile displacement forced upon you, you are returning to the home you so loved." He emphasized that the kibbutz was her only home, which she helped build and never left, always expressing pride in it. Her brother Gadi accused the government of "abandonment, crime, malice, and evil" for the evacuation.

Rabin-Yaakov was among the founding group of Menara in January 1943, establishing the first Jewish settlement in the area. She served as a Haganah radio operator and a nurse during the 1948 War of Independence, treating the wounded after only three weeks of training. She was also an educator.

President Isaac Herzog, in remarks read by community director Yochai Walfin, recalled Rabin-Yaakov's decision to stay and serve as a medic during the 1948 siege. He also noted her enduring grief and longing for her brother Yitzhak Rabin following his assassination 31 years ago, quoting her as saying, "I miss him more and more every day."

Her loved ones described a life marked by profound loss, beginning with her mother's death when she was 12. She nursed friends who fell defending the kibbutz in 1948 and later experienced the loss of a "son" figure in the Yom Kippur War and the assassination of her brother. Despite these tragedies, her son Yiftah stated, "With extraordinary strength of spirit, you stood proud and strong."

Her grandchildren, Alona and Gal, shared personal memories of her as a devoted grandmother, highlighting her pioneering spirit, her contributions to education and the Galilee, and her unwavering love and support for her family, even amidst her many accomplishments.