A poignant sailboat sculpture, a creation of the esteemed Israeli artist and designer Ilana Goor, stands on the Tiberias promenade. This piece, more than just a tribute to Rachel Bluwstein's bittersweet poetry, is a solemn memorial to her love and loss. Rachel’s life, marked by hardship and quiet tragedy, was a testament to the power of love, a love that was always for the Sea of Galilee.
Despite her profound love for a man, he could not commit to a life in Palestine and Tiberias. Their relationship, a poignant tale of unfulfilled love, existed only through impassioned letters. These letters, brimming with yearning and heartbreak, vividly portrayed the enduring pain of separation and Rachel's unwavering bond to him and the land. This love, for both the man and the Kinneret, was the driving force behind her poetry and the inspiration for this memorial, where art and history intertwine to celebrate her spirit and her profound connection to the lake she adored.
A stroll along the Tiberias promenade, a mere hour-long, is a journey through time. It's a place where the lives of Prague and Vitebsk rabbis intersect with the legacies of Israeli generals and politicians. Here, the figures of Roman rulers, Jewish sages, medieval knights, and Muslim merchants, a diverse ensemble of history, come to life.
Initially, it may appear as a modest waterfront in a small lakeside town. However, it harbours numerous unexpected twists of history, stories that are now known to only a few, offering a surprising peek into the layered past of this remarkable city.
