Sarah Herzog

Sarah Herzog (; née Hillman; b. 1896 – d. 1979) was an Israeli rebbetzin (rabbanit) and diplomat. She was also the mother of Chaim Herzog, 6th President of Israel, and Yaakov Herzog, Israeli diplomat.

Early life Born in Riga, Livonia, Russia, Herzog grew up in London. She was the daughter of Rabbi Shmuel Yitzchak Hillman, who invited Belfast Rabbi Isaac Herzog (Yitzchak HaLevi Herzog) to his home for a conference regarding kosher dietary laws during World War I rationing in 1917. According to family history, Sarah dropped a tea tray when she saw Isaac, who was also immediately smitten (in some versions, Sarah spilled tea all over Isaac).

In August 1917, Sarah married Isaac and assumed the title and responsibilities of a rebbetzin, or rabbi's wife. Her grandson remembered her as welcoming and hospitable, especially towards the impoverished. alt=A man in military uniform seated next to an older woman.

Life in Israel In May 1939, Herzog was active in protests against the "MacDonald White Paper," the British policy which effectively halted Jewish immigration to Palestine on the eve of World War II. With Rachel Ben-Zvi and Ita Yellin, she organized specific women's protests against the policy of saving Jewish children from Nazi-controlled territory (Kindertransport) but not allowing these children to be relocated to Palestine.

She was religiously observant and initially had reservations about Chaim's fiancée Aura Ambache, though she later welcomed her into the family.

After her husband's death, Herzog continued to be active in Israeli politics as an unofficial ambassador and in international Jewish women's organizations. In 1954, she travelled to Montreal in her role as President of the World's Mizrachi Women's Organization. She often hosted the wives of rabbis and other dignitaries, including during the first World Conference of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Congregations in 1968.

In 1977, Herzog was the founding president of Jewish women's Zionist organization World Emunah.

Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions An educational center in Bnei Brak for religious Jewish women is named Neve Sarah Herzog in her honour.

In the 1980s, the Jerusalem hospital Ezrath Nashim was renamed Herzog Hospital after her, who was its volunteer president for forty years.