Ruth Dayan
Encyclopedia
Ruth Dayan was married to the Israeli
general and defense minister Moshe Dayan
. She founded the Maskit fashion house and is active in many social causes.
. Dayan was married to Moshe Dayan from 1935-1971. During their marriage, they resided in Nahalal
, and later Tzahala
. Ruth's sister, Reuma, married Ezer Weizman
, the Israeli air force general, Defense minister and President. Dayan has three children: Yael Dayan
, a former Knesset
member and Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv
; Ehud (Udi) Dayan, a writer; and Assi Dayan
, an actor and filmmaker. In 2010, Dayan collaborated on her life story with biographer Anthony David
.
Dayan created a sensation with her tell-all book 'Or Did I Dream The Dream? The Story of Ruth Dayan' coauthored with Helga Dudman in 1973, which became a best-seller. Dayan stated that her husband "had such bad taste in women."
In 1955, Dayan met the fashion designer Finy Leitersdorf, who designed clothes and accessories for Maskit for 15 years. The two collaborated on a joint exhibit of Maskit designs at the Dizengoff Museum (today the Tel Aviv Museum).
Dayan also founded a Jewish — Arab social group, Brit Bnei Shem (Ibnaa Sam). She has worked on behalf of new immigrants, the rights of Bedouins and women’s causes. She was a lifelong friend of Palestinian poet and nationalist Raymonda Tawil, mother of Suha Arafat
, who in 1990 converted to Islam and became wife of late PLO leader Yasser Arafat
. In 1978, Dayan and Tawil planted a peace forest in Neve Shalom, Israel. In late 2009, Dayan flew to Malta
to meet Arafat's daughter, Zawha.
. In 2010, Dayan was awarded honorary citizenship by the Israeli town of Herzliya
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
general and defense minister Moshe Dayan
Moshe Dayan
Moshe Dayan was an Israeli military leader and politician. The fourth Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces , he became a fighting symbol to the world of the new State of Israel...
. She founded the Maskit fashion house and is active in many social causes.
Biography
Ruth Schwartz (later Dayan) was born in HaifaHaifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. Dayan was married to Moshe Dayan from 1935-1971. During their marriage, they resided in Nahalal
Nahalal
-External links:** UNESCO* Jewish Agency for Israel*, "Jews made a garden" - aerial photo of Nahalal , and a girl from Girls' Agricultural Training Farm , at Google Books....
, and later Tzahala
Tzahala
Tzahala is a residential neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Israel. It is located in the northeastern part of the city....
. Ruth's sister, Reuma, married Ezer Weizman
Ezer Weizman
' was the seventh President of Israel, first elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1998. Before the presidency, Weizman was commander of the Israeli Air Force and Minister of Defense.-Biography:...
, the Israeli air force general, Defense minister and President. Dayan has three children: Yael Dayan
Yael Dayan
Yaël Dayan is an Israeli politician and author. She served as a member of the Knesset between 1992 and 2003, and is currently the chair of Tel Aviv city council. She is the daughter of Moshe Dayan and sister of Assi Dayan.-Biography:...
, a former Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
member and Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
; Ehud (Udi) Dayan, a writer; and Assi Dayan
Assi Dayan
Asaf "Assi" Dayan is an Israeli film director, actor, screenwriter and producer.-Personal life:Assi Dayan is the youngest son of Israeli general and minister of defence Moshe Dayan and peace activist Ruth Dayan . He has two siblings: politician and author Yael Dayan, born 1939, and sculptor Ehud ...
, an actor and filmmaker. In 2010, Dayan collaborated on her life story with biographer Anthony David
Anthony David
Anthony David is Professor of Cognitive neuropsychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, part of King's College London.Professor David studied medicine at the University of Glasgow, subsequently training in neurology, then psychiatry...
.
Dayan created a sensation with her tell-all book 'Or Did I Dream The Dream? The Story of Ruth Dayan' coauthored with Helga Dudman in 1973, which became a best-seller. Dayan stated that her husband "had such bad taste in women."
Social activism
As a proponent of women's empowerment, Dayan founded Maskit, a fashion house that provided Dayan with a way of creating jobs for new immigrants and preserving Jewish ethnic art and culture.In 1955, Dayan met the fashion designer Finy Leitersdorf, who designed clothes and accessories for Maskit for 15 years. The two collaborated on a joint exhibit of Maskit designs at the Dizengoff Museum (today the Tel Aviv Museum).
Dayan also founded a Jewish — Arab social group, Brit Bnei Shem (Ibnaa Sam). She has worked on behalf of new immigrants, the rights of Bedouins and women’s causes. She was a lifelong friend of Palestinian poet and nationalist Raymonda Tawil, mother of Suha Arafat
Suha Arafat
Suha Arafat , née Suha Daoud Tawil , is the widow of former Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.-Early life:...
, who in 1990 converted to Islam and became wife of late PLO leader Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat
Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini , popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar , was a Palestinian leader and a Laureate of the Nobel Prize. He was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization , President of the Palestinian National Authority...
. In 1978, Dayan and Tawil planted a peace forest in Neve Shalom, Israel. In late 2009, Dayan flew to Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
to meet Arafat's daughter, Zawha.
Awards
On January 11, 2007, Dayan was awarded the Partner of Peace Award by the Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam community, a cooperative village of Jews and Arabs mid-way between Jerusalem and Tel AvivTel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. In 2010, Dayan was awarded honorary citizenship by the Israeli town of Herzliya
Herzliya
Herzliya is a city in the central coast of Israel, at the western part of the Tel Aviv District. It has a population of 87,000 residents. Named after Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, Herzliya covers an area of 26 km²...
.
Published works
- Or Did I Dream The Dream? And Perhaps: The Story of Ruth Dayan
- Crafts of Israel
- National Crafts among the Israelis & Arabs: One Path to Peace