Rabin Lecture

A Public Dialogue Exploring Leadership and Legacy

About the Lecture

Over a political and military career that spanned decades, Yitzhak Rabin was a complex and pivotal figure in the history of the Israeli state. He was a man of war and a man of peace, an emblem of security and of reconciliation. He is remembered for having signed the 1993 Oslo Accords and leading Israel and the Palestinians along a path to peace.

Ten years after Rabin’s tragic assassination in 1995, the Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital (then JPDS-NC) proudly inaugurated a library and community lecture series to honor the late Prime Minister. Yitzhak Rabin’s son, Yuval Rabin, dedicated the library and delivered the first public address.

Education and Dialogue at Milton

The Rabin Lecture attracts world-renowned speakers and engages a large audience in and beyond the Washington DC area. Exploring the values, motivations, and bold statesmanship behind Rabin’s legacy and pursuit of peace, the Lecture furthers public discussion around themes of leadership, difference, and conflict resolution.

In MILTON classrooms, values of diversity, engagement, and hands-on problem solving are woven throughout the curriculum. Israel education takes on increasing nuance in Middle School as students explore the complexity of multiple perspectives and the dynamism of a changing region. MILTON students find their voice in what is a challenging but important conversation, and through the open minds and hearts of young children, Rabin’s legacy of hope and open dialogue continues.

Upcoming Speaker

Amos Hochstein: The Middle East and Pathways to Peace

What is the state of the Israel/Hamas war today and where can we go from here? What are realistic pathways to peace for the Middle East?

Join former White House Deputy Assistant and Senior Advisor to the President and MILTON parent Amos Hochstein for an in-depth look at the Middle East landscape today and possible pathways to a lasting peace. Hochstein will share insights from his role as the lead negotiator in securing the Israel/Lebanon ceasefire agreement and invite conversation during a Q&A session with attendees. Join us on May 8 at 7:30pm at North Campus.

Past Speakers

  • 2024 – Barak Ravid and Laura Blumenfeld
  • 2021 – Tzipi Livni, Former Foreign Minister, Justice Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister of Israel
  • 2018 – Ambassador Terje Rød-Larsen and Joel Singer (see photos)
  • 2017 – Senator John McCain (see photos)
  • 2016 – Ambassador Daniel Shapiro (see photos)
  • 2012 – Justice Elena Kagan, US Supreme Court (see photos)
  • 2011 – Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (see photos)
  • 2010 – Senator George Mitchell, Special Envoy for Middle East Peace (see photos)
  • 2009 – Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (see photos)
  • 2008 – Elie Wiesel (see photos)
  • 2006 – Jeffrey Goldberg, Major General Dan Harel, and Robert Satloff
  • 2005 – Yuval Rabin with General Moshe Ya’alon, Ambassador Dennis Ross, and Paul Wolfowitz