Rachel Cohen-Kagan - Biography

Rachel Cohen-Kagan (born Rachel Lubersky on 19 February 1888, died 15 October 1982) was a Zionist activist and Israeli politician, and one of only two women to sign the Israeli declaration of independence.

Biography

Born in the city of Odessa in the Russian Empire (today in Ukraine), Cohen-Kagan attended university in her home city and Moscow.

She immigrated to Mandate Palestine in 1919 on board the ship Ruslan, and became involved in the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO). In 1932 she was appointed chairwoman of the Committee for Social Aid in the Community Committee of Haifa, 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 the Jewish National Council. A member of Moetzet HaAm, in 1948 Cohen-Kagan was one of only two women (the other was Golda Meir) to sign the Israeli declaration of independence.

In the first Knesset election in 1949 WIZO won a single seat, which was taken by Cohen-Kagan. She lost her seat in the 1951 elections.

She later joined the Liberal Party, and returned to the Knesset on its list following the 1961 elections. However, Cohen-Kagan was one of the seven MKs that broke away from the party to found the Independent Liberals in opposition to the impending merger with Herut. She lost her seat in the 1965 elections.

Cohen-Kagan had two children.

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