Rabin's speech would have been the second of a two-part IOP series on peace in the Middle East.

"It's a tragedy, definitely for the sake of the students who wanted to have contact [with Rabin]," said Bert I. Huang '96, chair of the IOP's Student Advisory Committee.

"But this is beyond the IOP," Huang added. "This is much bigger than the IOP. This is a very hard time for some people right now."

The weekly Sunday night Current Events Table in Leverett House devoted its discussion last night to the effects of the assassination on the future of Middle East peace.

"I did not expect [the assassination]," said Azer Bestavros '92, who participated in the discussion group. "It revived some fear that one person is capable of holding the world captive."

Rachel B. Tiven '96-'97 says the assassination caused her to reconsider her thoughts about immigrating to Israel after graduation.

"It was really painful and saddening that Israeli society has reached the point where a Jew would kill another Jew because of a clash in ideology," Tiven said.

"I'm shocked and I'm stunned. It's unprecedented in contemporary Jewish History," said Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel Director Bernard Steinberg.

Hillel Chair Ethan M. Tucker '97 said the assassination was "a deep blow to the Jewish people and to the world. A great leader has been murdered."

Rudenstine, Steinberg and Wolfson Professor of Jewish Studies Jay M. Harris will join several students in delivering speeches at today's Hillel-sponsored service on the Widener steps.

Brendam H. Gibbon contributed to this report.