First Lady of Israel

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]

First Lady of Israel
Incumbent Position Vacant since June 4, 2019
Residence	Beit HaNassi
Appointer	Knesset
Inaugural holder	Vera Weizmann
Formation	February 17, 1949

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

• Spouse of the Prime Minister of Israel

References

1. "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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Meranda, Amnon (2007-06-29). "Katsav submits letter of resignation". Ynet. Archived from the original on 2016-04-03. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
5. 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.
6. "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.
7. "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.