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DECEMBER 24, 2020 | The Jewish Home
order to receive treatment for heart problems. “When we had our interview in the American embassy and they asked us about why we wanted to go to America, we replied that we lived through the Doctors’ Plot. After that, they had no further questions,” said Vera. “All of our lives, we had to overcome obstacles.”
The move is part of the Ivory Coast’s effort to conserve its abundance of tropical wildlife. The sunny African nation is home to over 20 species of rare animals, including hammerhead sharks and leatherback turtles.
Esther Horgan, Hy”d, Killed in Terror Attack
Protecting the Sea In a first, the Ivory Coast has designated a protected marine area in an attempt to protect dozens of endangered species of sea life. The protected marine area will be located in Grand-Bereby and will cover more than 2,590 square kilometers. Located on Africa’s western coast, Grand Bereby serves as an important nesting site for turtles, including several species on the verge of extinction. The Ministry of Environment said in a statement that the protected marine area will “undoubtedly boost local tourism, creating jobs for the benefit of the community.”
In September, the Ivory Coast announced that it would designate five marine protected areas and is working with environmentalists to draft new regulations to conserve animal habitats. The sites marked as protected zones are said to be the Cavally River and Azagny National Park. “Levels of marine protection in West Africa are generally low, so the Ivorian government’s creation of a marine protected area is a big statement that will hopefully act as a regional exemplar,” said Kristian Metcalfe, a marine biologist and researcher at University of Exeter.
Esther Horgan, a Jewish mother of six, was brutally murdered in a terrorist attack on Sunday evening. Horgan, 52, had gone jogging on Sunday in a forest near her home in Tal Menashe in Samaria. She had been declared missing after failing to return from her evening run, causing police to dispatch the search party that found her body. “Police and crime scene investigators were called to the scene and have
begun collecting evidence,” police said in a statement. Horgan was laid to rest later on Monday. A well-known artist and marriage counselor, Horgan was described as a pillar of her community and a devoted mother. Binyamin Horgan, Esther’s husband, said that they met 31 years ago and were married within a few months. “Esther first came to Israel on a trip with her parents at the age of ten,” Binyamin said. “She fell in love with the Land and said that she had to come and live here – and she did, moving here immediately after graduating from high school.” He added, “So many people have asked me to speak about her, but how can I do justice to her in just a few words? She was simply an amazing person, full of joy in life, someone who loved everyone and everything. She was beautiful both inside and out.” Samaria Regional Council Chairman Yossi Dagan shared, “She was a beloved woman with a good heart who so loved to help people. She engaged in sports activities only a minute from her home yet was murdered in such an unjust and cruel way.” Da-
