Rachel Rabin-Yaakov, Yitzhak Rabin's sister, Galilee settlement figure, dies at 101

Rachel Rabin-Yaakov, the 101-year-old sister of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and a key figure in the founding of Kibbutz Manara in the Galilee, passed away on Friday. Born in Tel Aviv in 1925, Rachel was the younger sister of Yitzhak, who was three years her senior. Her parents, Rosa and Nehemiah Rabin, were prominent members of the Labor movement – her father was an active public figure, while her mother, Rosa Rabin, née Cohen, known as “Red Rosa,” was a labor activist, Haganah member, and Tel Aviv City Council member.

Rachel grew up immersed in a profound sense of public mission, simplicity, and modesty. She joined the HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed youth movement at the age of 17 and became one of the founders of Kibbutz Manara on the Lebanon border. She also played a vital role in establishing the Emek Hahula regional school and became a leading educator in the Upper Galilee.

As both a school principal and a dedicated educator, Rachel faced the challenges of living in a border community, including the consequences of security incidents and the exodus of younger generations. In the latter years of her life, her father Nehemiah moved to Manara and her family established a swimming pool, which later became a subject of controversy when Prime Minister Menachem Begin criticized it.

Following Yitzhak Rabin's assassination in 1995, Rachel dedicated herself to preserving his legacy and promoting tolerance and democratic dialogue through the Rabin Center. Despite the recent destruction and evacuation of Manara, Rachel had seen the community flourish again and welcomed new residents, fulfilling her vision of demographic growth. However, she was forced to leave her home due to the recent war damage and moved to assisted living at Kvutzat Kinneret.