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Miriam Peretz

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Miriam Peretz
מרים פרץ
Born (1954-04-10) 10 April 1954 (age 70)
Casablanca, French Morocco
NationalityIsraeli
Alma materBen-Gurion University of the Negev (BA)
Occupations
  • Educator
  • public speaker
SpouseEliezer Peretz
Children6
AwardsIsrael Prize (2018)

Miriam Peretz (Hebrew: מרים פרץ; born 10 April 1954) is an Israeli educator and public speaker. After the deaths of two of her sons during their service in the Israel Defense Forces, Peretz became a lecturer on Zionism and living with loss. She was the recipient of the Israel Prize in 2018, for lifetime achievement.

Early life and education

Peretz was born to Jewish parents Yaakov Ohayon and Ito Vaknin in Casablanca. In 1963, the family left Morocco and made aliyah to Israel. Upon arriving in Israel, they settled in Beersheba. Peretz went on to earn a bachelor's degree in literature and history from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and later married Eliezer Peretz in the mid-1970s. After her marriage, she moved to Ofira, an Israeli settlement on the Sinai Peninsula, where her husband worked as an inspector for the Ministry of Health and she began working as a teacher. While living in Ofira, the family had two sons: Uriel and Eliraz.[1]

Following the signage of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty, the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt in 1982, and Israeli settlers were forced to relocate. Peretz and her family first relocated to Giv'on HaHadasha, and later to Giv'at Ze'ev, both Israeli settlements in the West Bank. After the relocation, Peretz had four more children: Hadas, Avichai, Elisaf, and Bat-El. In Giv'at Ze'ev, Peretz became the principal of the settlement's first Israeli school.[2]

Public speaking

Peretz lecturing Israel Defense Forces soldiers in 2017.

In 1998, Peretz's eldest son Uriel Peretz was killed during an ambush in South Lebanon. Shortly after his death, Peretz's husband Eliezer developed a serious illness and later died as well. The family has alleged that this illness was brought on by heartbreak. In 2010, Peretz's second son Eliraz Peretz was killed during a battle in the Gaza Strip.[3]

Following the deaths of her two eldest sons and her husband, Peretz become a public speaker on issues surrounding Zionism and coping with loss, lecturing the youth and Israel Defense Forces soldiers.[4] In 2011, she released the book Shirat Miriam, which chronicles the story of her life.[5] In 2014, Peretz was selected to light a torch at the celebration of Israel's 66th Independence Day.[6] In 2016, she received an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University.[7] In 2018, Peretz received the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, considered to be the highest cultural honor awarded by Israel.[8][9]

In 2020, 50% of Israelis selected Peretz as their preferred presidential candidate for the 2021 Israeli presidential election and appears as of May 2021 to be a candidate.[10]

Personal life

Peretz continues to reside in Giv'at Ze'ev. She serves as a supervisor to the Director of Society and Youth at the Ministry of Education.

References

  1. ^ "The story of Miriam Peretz | Jewish Independent". www.jewishindependent.ca. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  2. ^ DanielleA (2018-07-10). "Miriam Peretz". Israeli American Council. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  3. ^ "Miriam Peretz's Israel Prize speech to be taught in school". Israel National News. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  4. ^ Winer, Stuart. "IDF chief congratulates Israel Prize winner to whom he's tied through tragedy". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  5. ^ DanielleA (2018-07-10). "Miriam Peretz". Israeli American Council. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  6. ^ Zur, Yarden (2018-03-18). "Educator Miriam Peretz, Who Lost Two Sons in Combat, Wins Israel Prize". Haaretz. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  7. ^ "Honorary Doctorate Ceremony BIU 2016 | American Friends of Bar-Ilan University". Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  8. ^ "Bereaved mother Miriam Peretz to receive Israel Prize - Israel News - Jerusalem Post". www.jpost.com. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  9. ^ Bachner, Michael. "Mother of fallen IDF soldiers awarded Israel Prize for youth work". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
  10. ^ https://mobile.mako.co.il/news-politics/2021_q2/Article-b470abee4a56971026.htm
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