Reuma Weizman, wife of Israel’s late seventh president, Ezer Weizman, died at age 99, it was announced Tuesday.

Weizman had a long history of public service, both before, during and after her husband’s time in office, although her public image lived largely in the shadow of that of her outspoken and acerbic spouse.

The former first lady spent decades involved in volunteer work with children in need. During her husband’s tenure as president, she hosted numerous visiting dignitaries and also accompanied him on multiple foreign trips. She also used her position to open up the President’s Residence to organizations assisting ailing children and those with special needs, championing women’s issues and supporting adult literacy.

Ezer Weizman died in 2005 at age 80. After a long career in both the military and politics, he was elected president in 1993 and then reelected in 1998, but resigned in 2000 amid a scandal over improperly received funds when he was a Knesset member.

Weizman was born Reuma Schwartz in London in 1925, to Zvi and Rachel, immigrants to Mandatory Palestine from Eastern Europe who were stationed in the United Kingdom for Zvi’s studies. When Weizman was a toddler, her family returned to Jerusalem, and later sent her to a boarding school in the Mishmar HaEmek kibbutz in the Jezreel Valley. Her sister, Ruth – who died in 2021 at age 103 – was the first wife of legendary defense minister Moshe Dayan and a prominent activist.

In 1946, Weizman traveled to London, enabled by her British passport, and began studying education. She

© The Times of Israel