Sonia Peres

Sonia Peres (; née Gelman; 27 March 1923 – 20 January 2011) was the wife of President and Prime Minister of Israel, Shimon Peres. Sonia served in the British Army during World War II, and for many years volunteered anonymously for sick children and the disabled. She married Shimon in May 1945. Together, they helped found kibbutz Alumot. Sonia and Shimon had three children and eight grandchildren. Sonia rarely appeared in public eye, preferring to play a backstage role in her husband's six-decade political career. Early life Sonia Gelman was born in the town of Mizoch in Poland (nowadays in Ukraine) to Malka (Mamcha) and Yaakov Gelman. In 1927 she made Aliya to Mandatory Palestine with her parents, her older sister Batya and younger brother Itzik. The Gelman family was one of the first to leave the town, with the aim of making Aliya to the Land of Israel, and their departure caused great excitement. A farewell ceremony was held, which included a party and speeches attended by all the residents. The family settled in the Ben Shemen Youth Village, when Malka was employed as the housemother of the institution, and Yaakov served as a yardman and carpentry teacher.