First Lady of Israel
Appearance
First Lady of Israel | |
---|---|
Incumbent since June 4, 2019Vacant | |
Residence | Beit HaNassi |
Appointer | Knesset |
Inaugural holder | Vera Weizmann |
Formation | February 17, 1949 |
First Lady of Israel is the unofficial title of the wife of the president of Israel.[1] The position has been vacant since June 4, 2019, when First Lady Nechama Rivlin, wife of President Reuven Rivlin, died in office.[2]
History
There is no official role or office of the first lady of Israel,[2] although President Reuven Rivlin bestowed the title of First Lady on his wife, Nechama Rivlin, shortly after taking office in 2014.[1][2]
First ladies of Israel
Name | Portrait | Term Began | Term Ended | President of Israel | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vera Weizmann | February 17, 1949 | November 9, 1952 | Chaim Weizmann | Wife of the first President of Israel. Born in the Russian Empire and immigrated to the United Kingdom. | |
Rachel Yanait Ben-Zvi | December 16, 1952 | April 23, 1963 | Yitzhak Ben-Zvi | Born in present-day Ukraine, Ben-Zvi was an author, educator and leading proponent of Labor Zionism. | |
Rachel Katznelson-Shazar | May 21, 1963 | May 24, 1973 | Zalman Shazar | ||
Nina Katzir | May 24, 1973 | May 29, 1978 | Ephraim Katzir | ||
Ofira Navon | May 29, 1978 | May 5, 1983 | Yitzhak Navon | ||
Aura Herzog | May 5, 1983 | May 13, 1993 | Chaim Herzog | Founder of the Council for a Beautiful Israel[3] | |
Reuma Weizman | May 13, 1993 | July 13, 2000 | Ezer Weizman | ||
Gila Katsav | August 1, 2000 | July 1, 2007 | Moshe Katsav | Gila Katsav's tenure ended on July 1, 2007, when her husband resigned the presidency.[4] | |
Sonia Peres | July 15, 2007 | January 20, 2011 | Shimon Peres | Sonia Peres, who was Polish-born, disliked the role of wife of a politician and public figure. Though the country's first lady, she and Shimon Peres became estranged circa 2008 over his decision to remain in public office during their later life; the couple lived apart for the remainder of their lives.[5][6] Sonia Peres died in role on January 20, 2011, at the age of 87.[5][7] | |
Position vacant | January 20, 2011 | July 24, 2014 | Shimon Peres | First Lady Sonia Peres had died on January 20, 2011, while Shimon Peres was still in office. | |
Nechama Rivlin | July 24, 2011 | June 4, 2019 | Reuven Rivlin | Nechama Rivlin was a researcher and scientist at Hebrew University. She died in role from complications of a lung transplant on June 4, 2019.[2] | |
Position vacant | June 4, 2019 | Present | Reuven Rivlin | First Lady Nechama Rivlin died on June 4, 2019.[2] |
See also
References
- ^ a b "The First Lady: Nechama Rivlin". Office of the President of the State of Israel. Archived from the original on 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
- ^ a b c d e Cashman, Greer Fay (2019-06-04). "Nechama Rivlin, scientist, art lover, wife of president, passes away". Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 2019-06-09. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
- ^ Cashman, Greer Fay (2012-04-25). "All In The Family: The legacy of Labor MK Isaac Herzog runs deep". Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
- ^ Meranda, Amnon (2007-06-29). "Katsav submits letter of resignation". Ynet. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
- ^ a b Kaplan Sommer, Allison (2011-01-26). "Sonia Peres, Intensely Private Wife of Israel's President, Shunned the Spotlight". The Forward. Archived from the original on 2016-11-05. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
- ^ "Politics broke up my marriage, Peres says". Associated Press. Times of Israel. 2014-05-05. Archived from the original on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
- ^ "Sonia Peres, president's wife, dies at 87 in Tel Aviv". Jerusalem Post. 2011-01-20. Archived from the original on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2019-07-02.