Nechama Rivlin

Nechama Rivlin
First Lady of Israel
Assumed role
24 July 2014
President Reuven Rivlin
Preceded by Sonya Peres
Personal details
Born (1945-06-05) 5 June 1945
Herut, Mandatory Palestine
Spouse(s)
Reuven Rivlin (m. 1971)
Alma mater Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Nechama Rivlin (Hebrew: נחמה ריבלין‬; born 5 June 1945) is the First Lady of Israel. She is married to the current President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin.

Early life and education

Rivlin was born on moshav Herut that her parents, Mendi and Drora Kayla Shulman, helped to establish. Her mother, who had immigrated from the Ukraine, was widowed when Rivlin was a young girl. [1] Rivlin attended local schools and graduated from the Ruppin Regional High School. Medical issues prevented her from starting military service, and in 1964, she enrolled at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. At graduation, she received a BSc in Botany and Zoology, along with a Teaching Diploma. [2] Later in life, she studied the History of Art.

Career

Rivlin became a researcher at Hebrew University in 1967. Her initial role was in the Department of Zoology of the Hebrew University, and she later worked in the Department of Ecology, as well as in the Department of Genetics.

Rivlin retired in 2007, but in addition to regular employment, she has engaged in a variety of volunteer assignments, including in politics and the Jerusalem City Guard.

First Lady

Nechama and Reuven Rivlin

In her role as Israel's First Lady, she has concentrated on areas she is most familiar with through her academic work and family. One area of focus is nature and the environment. She has created a community garden, and has begun a new recycling system.

She has also been a vocal supporter of women and children.[3] In her first major activity as First Lady, she welcomed 200 Akim activists to the President's Residence to promote support for intellectually challenged children. [4] Sharing a message of peace and tolerance, she hosted students and teachers from the Hand in Hand: Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel at the President's Residence following an arson attack at their school.[5] Rivlin has said violence against children is a great problem throughout society, and that Israel should work to investigate and address child abuse. "We must break this conspiracy of silence once and for all", she said.[6] In March 2016, she hosted a group of women who had publicly shared their experiences with sexual assault and domestic abuse.[7] Rivlin told them that by telling their stories, they would help others who face difficult issues.[8]

Rivlin has joined her husband in international travels, including a visit to the White House with U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the December 2015 Hannukah celebration.[9] [10] She and her husband lit a menorah made in Israel by designer, Ze'ev Raban.[11]

Beginning in November 2015, the First Lady was assigned a security detail for when she is outside the official residence on her own. President Rivlin has been a "target of right-wing verbal attacks, with criticism against him often crossing the line into hate speech", according to The Times of Israel. The President told Army Radio: "Neither my wife nor I are personally afraid – there is no fear in our hearts, but we are concerned and worry for Israeli democracy."[12]

Personal life

In 1971, she became Reuven Rivlin's wife. The couple has three children, Rivka, Anat, and Ran, as well as several grandchildren.

A former heavy smoker, Mrs Rivlin lives with pulmonary fibrosis. [13]

References

  1. ↑ My Mother, a Pioneer Who Helped Turn the Zionist Dream Into Reality Haaretz, March 3, 2016
  2. ↑ The First Lady President of the State of Israel, accessed March 7, 2016
  3. ↑ Nechama Rivlin hosts visiting New York UJA women leaders The Jerusalem Post, November 12, 2015
  4. ↑ Nechama Rivlin Jerusalem Post, November 9, 2014
  5. ↑ Rivlin meets with students from co-existence school set on fire in hate-crime YNET, December 4, 2014
  6. ↑ Study: 53 percent of Israeli youngsters suffer from abuse, victimization Jerusalem Post, May 27, 2015
  7. ↑ First Lady meets with haredi victims of domestic abuse the Jerusalem Post, March 8, 2016
  8. ↑ Minister Gila Gamliel: I have experienced sexual harassment YNET News, March 8, 2016
  9. ↑ Rivlin lights White House menorah with ‘prayer for liberty the Times of Israel, December 9, 2015
  10. ↑ Hanukkah at the White House 2015 The White House, December 15, 2015
  11. ↑ We Asked, You Answered: "What's the Story Behind Your Menorah?" The White House, December 9, 2015
  12. ↑ Israels First Lady receives Her Own Security Detail The Times of Israel, November 5, 2015
  13. ↑ "Clearing the air". Jerusalem Post.
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Sonia Peres		 First Lady of Israel
2014–present		 Incumbent
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