National Union – National Religious Party [until it chooses a new name] MK Nissan Slomiansky is used to being the only man wearing a kippa backstage every year at the annual commemoration for the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Being an MK, he is allowed access to the backstage area of the Square, where he can mingle with the VIPs.

This, the thirteenth year of the commemoration, which is always held in Kikar Rabin in central Tel-Aviv, was no different. Backstage there were hundreds of people mulling about, mingling, remembering, renewing acquaintances. Amongst the crowd were the elite of Israeli society: current and former politicians from the Labor and Meretz parties; friends and associates of the Rabin family; pilots, admirals and generals; business and social leaders; public relations consultants and publicists; television personalities, celebrities, singers, journalists and other assorted VIPs. All secular, the vast majority Ashkenazi, well-off, wearing smart clothes. Continue reading →