Israel marks five years to Shimon Peres' death

• Published date: 04 October 2021
• Author: GREER FAY CASHMAN
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Conspicuously absent were former president Reuven Rivlin, former prime minister Ehud Barak and Chief Rabbis David Lau and Yitzhak Yosef. Both rabbis made their pledges of duty and loyalty in the presence of Peres at the President's Residence in 2013.

The accolades were repetitive but in different contexts. Peres, the only president who also served as prime minister, foreign minister, defense minister, finance minister, and a string of other ministerial positions, was remembered for his intellect, his optimism, his refusal to be bowed by defeat, his vision but most of all for his ability to turn his dreams into reality, and to never be afraid to dream. His greatest legacy by way of the impression that he left on so many, was to dream big. In his autobiography, written shortly before his death, he wrote that he regretted that he had not dreamed big enough.

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The tone for the remarks was set by Shai Abramson, who usually appears at state ceremonies in army uniform in the role of chief cantor of the Israel Defense Forces.

This time he wore a business suit, and in addition to his cantorial contribution to the event, was also master of ceremonies.

It was he who said that Israel is missing Peres's words of wisdom which have become so increasingly relevant. He cited Peres's vision for the future, his unconquerable optimism, and his dream for peace for the region.

Israel start-ups are increasingly helping to make the world a better place, said Abramson, alluding to Peres's encouragement of initiative and innovation, "and his vision of a new Middle East is becoming a reality."

Looking out at the crowd, Herzog surmised that each person present had their memories of Peres, but doubted that anyone other than members of the Peres family could say that they knew him from the time they were born.

Herzog, who looked on Peres as his guide and mentor, said that they had spent thousands of hours together in moments of joy and excitement and times of crisis and sorrow. He recalled his visits to Sheba Medical Center where Peres was hospitalized after his collapse and said that he had shared the prayers and hopes of all those who were anxiously waiting for Peres to get up and out of his hospital bed. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

TWO MONTHS ago, said Herzog, he had stepped into the shoes filled by Peres when he was Israel's ninth...