First Lady of Israel explained

Post:First Lady
Body:Israel
Insignia:Flag of Israel.svg
Insigniasize:100px
Appointer:Knesset
Incumbent:Michal Herzog
Incumbentsince:7 July 2021
Residence:Beit HaNassi
Formation:17 February 1949
Inaugural:Vera Weizmann
Native Name:בת הזוג של נשיא מדינת ישראל

First Lady of Israel is the unofficial title of the wife of the president of Israel. The current first lady of Israel is Michal Herzog, wife of President Isaac Herzog.

History

There is no official role or office of the first lady of Israel,[1] although President Reuven Rivlin bestowed the title of First Lady on his wife, Nechama Rivlin, shortly after taking office in 2014.[2] [1]

First ladies of Israel

NamePortraitTerm beganTerm endedPresident of IsraelNotes
Vera Weizmann17 February 19499 November 1952Chaim WeizmannWife of the first President of Israel. Born in the Russian Empire and immigrated to the United Kingdom.
Rachel Yanait Ben-Zvi16 December 195223 April 1963Yitzhak Ben-ZviBorn in present-day Ukraine, Ben-Zvi was an author, educator and leading proponent of Labor Zionism.
Rachel Katznelson-Shazar21 May 196324 May 1973Zalman Shazar
Nina Katzir24 May 197329 May 1978Ephraim Katzir
Ofira Navon29 May 19785 May 1983Yitzhak Navon
Aura Herzog5 May 198313 May 1993Chaim HerzogFounder of the Council for a Beautiful Israel[3]
Reuma Weizman13 May 199313 July 2000Ezer Weizman
Gila Katsav1 August 20001 July 2007Moshe KatsavGila Katsav's tenure ended on July 1, 2007, when her husband resigned the presidency.[4]
Sonia Peres15 July 200720 January 2011Shimon PeresSonia 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.[7]
Position vacant20 January 201124 July 2014First Lady Sonia Peres had died on January 20, 2011, while Shimon Peres was still in office.
Nechama Rivlin24 July 20144 June 2019Reuven RivlinNechama Rivlin was a researcher and scientist at Hebrew University. She died in role from complications of a lung transplant on June 4, 2019.
Position vacant4 June 20197 July 2021First Lady Nechama Rivlin died on June 4, 2019.
Michal Herzog7 July 2021PresentIsaac HerzogFirst Lady Michal Herzog is a lawyer.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Greer Fay. Cashman . Nechama Rivlin, scientist, art lover, wife of president, passes away . . 2019-06-04 . 2019-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190609073444/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Nechama-Rivlin-scientist-art-lover-wife-of-president-passes-away-591540 . 2019-06-09 . live.
  2. News: The First Lady: Nechama Rivlin . . 2019-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190325095006/http://archive.president.gov.il/English/ThePresident/Pages/TheFirstLady_CV.aspx . 2019-03-25 . live.
  3. News: Greer Fay. Cashman . All In The Family: The legacy of Labor MK Isaac Herzog runs deep . . 2012-04-25 . 2019-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190515004350/https://www.jpost.com/Features/In-Thespotlight/All-in-the-family . 2019-05-15 . live.
  4. News: Amnon . Meranda . Katsav submits letter of resignation . . 2007-06-29 . 2019-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160403140101/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3419000,00.html . 2016-04-03 . live.
  5. News: Allison . Kaplan Sommer . Sonia Peres, Intensely Private Wife of Israel's President, Shunned the Spotlight . . 2011-01-26 . 2019-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161105172018/https://forward.com/news/134964/sonia-peres-intensely-private-wife-of-israel-s-p/ . 2016-11-05 . live.
  6. News: Politics broke up my marriage, Peres says . . . 2014-05-05 . 2019-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160326052438/http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Sonia-Peres-presidents-wife-dies-at-87-in-Tel-Aviv . 2016-03-26 . live.
  7. News: Sonia Peres, president's wife, dies at 87 in Tel Aviv . . 2011-01-20 . 2019-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160326052438/http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Sonia-Peres-presidents-wife-dies-at-87-in-Tel-Aviv . 2016-03-26 . live.