In memory of Rabbanit Tzfia Goren ע״ה, a visionary and a great leader 6/16/08

The Emunah women’s movement suffered a tremendous loss upon the passing of one it its founding leaders, Rabbanit Tzfia Goren, who passed away in Israel on Friday, May 30th, at the age of 82. She was the wife of Rabbi Shlomo Goren, a leader in the national-religious movement and one of Israel’s Chief Rabbis. Emunah published a eulogy remembering her as a leader in education and a woman with outstanding character. “Rabbanit Goren was an exemplary woman, in both her community activism and her special personality, who made a major contribution to the Jewish people, and to the State,”said Liora Minka, Chairman of Emunah-Israel. Rabbanit Tzfia Goren was born in Jerusalem in 1925. She was the daughter of the famed Rabbi David Hacohen the Nazir, and Rabbanit Sarah Hacohen, who was among the founders of OMEN women’s Mizrachi in Jerusalem. Rabbanit Goren studied to become a teacher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and it is there that she met her future husband, Rav Shlomo Goren. The couple were married in 1945 in Jerusalem. When her husband was appointed the chief Rabbi of the IDF, Rabbanit Goren moved with him to Tel Aviv, where they lived for the next 23 years. Rabbi Shlomo Goren was on hand during the capture of East Jerusalem on June 7, 1967, and in what was a defining moment of the war, blew a shofar and carried a Torah scroll during the first Jewish prayer session at the Western Wall since 1948. Throughout the years that her husband was in this post, and then later as the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbanit Goren stood by his side and her home was always open to everyone who sought guidance and advice. From a young age, Rabbanit Goren was involved in OMEN women’s Mizrachi, which later became Emunah. She was instrumental in Emunah’s foundation and leadership, eventually becoming the president of the organization, one of her many leadership roles in Emunah over the course of decades. Rabbanit Goren is survived by three children, 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. "A woman has passed away who was a noble and virtuous educator. Rabbanit Goren radiated tranquility and good spirit. She expressed par excellence the combination of loyalty to Torah and Mitzvot with a deep commitment to society and the State. Emunah will greatly miss one of its most outstanding leaders who paved a way and set standards of justice and integrity in our public life" stated Liora Minka, in her eulogy.