Miriam Peretz

Miriam Peretz (born 1954) is an Israeli educator who lost two sons during their army service. Miriam lectures around the world on Zionism and living with loss and was the recipient of the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement in 2018.[1]

Miriam Peretz

Early life

Peretz was born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco. In 1963, her family immigrated to Israel. Miriam later earned a BA in Literature and History from Ben-Gurion University. She married Eliezer Peretz and they moved to Ophira.[2] Their oldest two children, Uriel and Eliraz, were born in Egypt. The Peretz family moved to Givat Zev, where Miriam had another four children and worked as the principal of the first school in the neighborhood.[3]

Loss

On November 25, 1998 Peretz’s oldest son, Lieutenant Uriel Peretz, 22, was killed in an ambush in south Lebanon. His father, Eliezer Peretz, died a short time later at the age of 56. On March 26, 2010, her second son, army major Eliraz Peretz, was killed in battle at the Gaza strip.[4]

Activism

Peretz has devoted her time to imparting Jewish and Zionist messages to youth and IDF soldiers.[5] Miriam wrote a book, “Shirat Miriam,” about the story of her life.[6]

Awards
  • In 2014, she was chosen to light a torch at Israel’s 66th Independence Day.[7]
  • In 2016, she received an honorary doctorate from Bar-Ilan University.[8]
  • In 2018, at Israel’s 70th Independence Day, she received the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement.[9]

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