Rachel Cohen-Kagan | |
|---|---|
רחל כהן-כגן | |
 | |
| Faction represented in theKnesset | |
| 1949–1951 | WIZO |
| 1961–1965 | Liberal Party |
| 1965 | Independent Liberals |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 February 1888 |
| Died | 15 October 1982(1982-10-15) (aged 94) |
Rachel Cohen-Kagan (Hebrew:רחל כהן-כגן; 19 February 1888 – 15 October 1982) was aZionist activist andIsraeli politician, and one of only two women to sign theIsraeli Declaration of Independence, alongsideGolda Meir.
Rachel Lubarsky (later Cohen-Kagan) was born in the city ofOdessa in theRussian Empire (today inUkraine), Her father was one of the founders of theLovers of Zion movement. Her father's occupation exposed her at an early age to the great Zionists and Jews of Odessa likeAhad Ha'am andHayim Nahman Bialik.[1] Cohen-Kagan attended university in her home city, and was also granted an honorary degree from theHebrew University of Jerusalem.[1] Sheimmigrated toMandatory Palestine in 1919 on board the shipRuslan, and became involved in theWomen's International Zionist Organization (WIZO).
In 1932 she was appointed chairwoman of the Committee for Social Aid in the Community Committee ofHaifa, a role she held until 1946. In 1938, she was elected chairwoman of WIZO, and became more involved in politics. In 1946 she was appointed director of the Social Department of theJewish National Council. A member ofMoetzet HaAm, in 1948 Cohen-Kagan was one of only two women (the other wasGolda Meir) to sign theIsraeli declaration of independence.[2]
In thefirst Knesset elections in 1949, WIZO won a single seat, which was taken by Cohen-Kagan. During her first term in the Knesset, she was the sponsor of the first legislation promoting equal rights for women.[3] However, she lost her seat in the1951 elections.
After later joining theLiberal Party, she returned to the Knesset on its list following the1961 elections. However, Cohen-Kagan was one of the seven MKs who broke away from the party to found theIndependent Liberals in opposition to the impending merger withHerut. She lost her seat in the1965 elections.
Cohen-Kagan had two children. She died on 15 October 1982 at the age of 94.
Streets inRa'anana,Rishon Lezion andHaifa are named after her.
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