Mayor Feirberg-Ikar with some of her youngest constituents (Source)
Tribute to Mayor Miriam Feirberg-Ikar: The ‘Iron Lady’ of Netanya
By Randy Pinsky
Israel lost a veritable icon this past November. Miriam Feirberg-Ikar z”l (1951-2025) was an innovator, a visionary; the ‘Iron Lady of Netanya.’ Tied for second place as Israel's longest-serving mayor, she is credited for having elevated Netanya from a small town into a thriving, bustling city. Ministers stood for a moment of silence at the weekly government meeting on November 23rd, and flags were lowered to half-mast in her honour. The Azrieli Institute mourns of the loss of a great leader and friend.[1]
“An Iron Fist in a Silk Glove”
Elected as mayor in 1994, Feirberg-Ikar used her background in social work to shed insight into the needs and struggles of her more vulnerable constituents. Her campaign slogan was “Power with Soul,” focusing on education, welfare, sports, culture and immigration integration. As Israel’s first female mayor to be put in place via direct elections, she listened to concerns and responded with innovative programs for nearly 30 years.
Following her first term in office, she was promptly re-elected - five times consecutively. Never one to stay removed from her people, she was known for her presence in the community, consulting citizens on issues and priorities.
In 2014, Feirberg-Ikar was interviewed by Leaders Magazine for the Women Leaders section. She reflected how a combination of innovative community-centred programming with regular consultation yielded critical results, both economically and socially. “There are economists today …that use Netanya as an example of how you take a city in great deficit and put it on a path of growth,” she proudly related.
Her unique approach which balanced persistence with elegance, earned her the reputation as leading with “an iron fist in a silk glove.”
In a tribute made by the Prime Minister’s office, Feirberg-Ikar was recognized for having “dedicated her life to public service, advancing society and bold, forward-looking urban development…” Israel’s leader continued, “she lived, breathed and dreamed Netanya.”
Revitalizing Netanya
Feirberg-Ikar saw what were the most pressing needs, and set about addressing them one by one. Under her leadership, the city experienced unprecedented urban renewal, becoming a critical “business, sports and tourism hub on Israel's Mediterranean coast.” The small town soon started to blossom and attract local and international giants such as Cisco, IKEA and Celcom.
She was singularly focused on the city’s development and refused to be derailed by the often fractional and divisive politics of the country, said Chief Rabbi of Israel and former Chief Rabbi of Netanya, Rabbi Kalman Ber.
As a woman of action over words, Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu observed, “Netanya has lost a true leader who built the city with her own hands- stone by stone, and project by project.”
The People’s Mayor
Feirberg-Ikar made an indelible mark as a trailblazer, being the driving force and anchor behind the city’s security and advancement. She was, as many stated, “a public servant of the highest order.”
Far from dictating decrees from her office, Feirberg-Ikar worked directly with her constituents. “It amazed me how many residents had a personal story about her,” shared newly-crowned Miss Israel and former Miss Netanya 2024, Ayelet Raymond; “proof of a leader…woven into the heartbeat of the city itself.”
At the city’s Miriam Stadium named in her honour during her lifetime, Municipality CEO Yoram Cohen eulogized, “An entire city bids you farewell today. Netanya’s melody cannot be stopped.”
[1] Students from the Azrieli Institute Summer Program had the opportunity to meet with her at their recent trip in August 2025
