A renewed memorial on a decisive anniversary
On November 1, Tel Aviv’s Heichal HaTarbut will host a one-night revival of Amos Gitai’s multimedia stage work Yitzhak Rabin: Chronology of a Murder, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Rabin’s assassination. The production, first staged nearly a decade ago and premiered at the Avignon Festival in France, returns to wrestle with a pivotal moment in Israeli history and its lasting echoes in the country’s political discourse.
Gitai’s piece seeks to reconstruct the atmosphere of those days, drawing audiences into the mood, rhetoric, and fear that surrounded the lead‑up to Rabin’s 1995 murder on November 4. By reimagining the 24 hours before the shooting, the performance invites viewers to consider how public discourse, media, and political pressure can shape events as much as personal decisions.
An ambitious blend of media: cinema, theatre and music
The show is conceived as a multimedia tapestry that blends cinema, theatrical form, and live music. Gitai combines archival material, live performance, and cinematic fragments to create a cohesive narrative about a night that altered Israel’s path. The production integrates scenes from Gitai’s 2015 film Rabin, the Last Day, alongside newly staged sequences, moving between stillness and urgency to mirror the emotional tempo of late‑night decisions and the ensuing national trauma.
Music plays a central role in shaping the emotional landscape. The Haifa Symphony Orchestra joins the stage, lending a grand yet intimate sonic frame to the proceedings. The interplay of sound and visuals is designed to foreground the ethical questions at stake, rather than offering simple conclusions about what happened or why it happened.
A cast, a choir, and the filmmaker’s archival frame
The production is brought to life by a trio of performers and a live ensemble. The stage features veteran actresses Karen Mor and Yael Abecassis, whose performances anchor the work with memory, grief, and a questioning gaze toward the future. The narrative is framed by Leah Rabin’s testimony from that night, recounted through the personal lens of history, and integrated with archival footage and carefully curated sound design. The combination of testimony, archival imagery, and live interpretation creates a layered portrait of a moment when rhetoric and politics collided with real consequences.
Gitai’s approach is not to recreate the past as a documentary, but to illuminate how a society speaks to itself in times of division. By weaving together film, theatre, and music, the show offers a reflective space where audience members can examine the forces that contributed to Rabin’s death and to consider how those forces still resonate in Israel’s civic life in 2025.
Why this revival matters in 2025
As Israel confronts enduring polarization and a complex political landscape, the revival of Yitzhak Rabin: Chronology of a Murder arrives as a provocative reminder of the cost of political rancor and demagoguery. Gitai’s work asks audiences to reflect on the responsibilities of public discourse and the ways in which cultural memory can serve as a counterweight to escalation. The inclusion of Leah Rabin’s firsthand account foregrounds personal memory as a moral counterpoint to political rhetoric, challenging viewers to think about reconciliation, accountability, and the future trajectory of Israeli democracy.
In its reconceived form, the production also speaks to contemporary audiences about how history informs current debates. By revisiting the events of 1995 through a modern lens, Gitai invites a dialogue about memory, justice, and the enduring questions of coexistence that shape Israel from 2025 onward.
What to expect and where to look for updates
Audience members can anticipate a night that moves across media, blending archival cinema with live performance and orchestral accompaniment. The collaboration with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra and the presence of prominent Israeli actors promise a contemplative and emotionally charged experience, aimed at deepening public understanding rather than delivering simple answers. For up-to-date information on tickets and timing, check the Heichal HaTarbut’s official channels as the date approaches.
