Press Releases
(Washington, D.C., May 20, 2021)—B’nai B’rith World Center-Jerusalem Director Alan Schneider presented on May 13 the B’nai B’rith Edith “Pat” Wolfson Endowment in support of Israeli orphans for 2021 to Elyashiv Horgan (13), the youngest child of Esther Horgan (52), who was murdered by terrorist Muhammad Marwah Kabha on Dec. 20, 2020 while jogging in the Shaked Forest, near the family home. Kabha, who was apprehended by security forces on Dec. 24 following an intensive manhunt, told interrogators that he had ethno-religious reasons for killing Horgan.
Schneider made the presentation at the family home in the northern Samaria village of Tal Menashe.
In addition to Elyashiv, Esther left her parents, aged 93 and 92, three elder sisters, her husband Benjamin, five grownup children and two grandchildren. Subsequent to the murder, the government approved plans to nearly double the population of Tal Menashe—where Esther and Benjamin were among the founders some 20 years ago—to 250 families.
Horgan worked as an artist, focusing her activities on Judaica and children’s books illustrations, and as a marriage counselor and coach in Hadera, Netanya and Jerusalem. She also contributed articles on psychology and couples therapy to the weekly French-language magazine Le P’tit Hebdo. In Horgan’s memory, the family announced a project to build a fitness and recreation park in the Shaked Forest that will bear witness and tell the story of Esther’s life, for which they are currently raising funds. “Our goal is that we will help visitors play a role in living out Esther’s life by simply celebrating life in nature,” the family said.
The presentation was made as part of the World Center’s project to support Israeli children who have lost a parent or both parents to terror or disease. The World Center has been charged with administering the Edith “Pat” Wolfson Endowment grant since its inception in 2005.
The following previous grants have been made:
2006 – To Salomon (14) and Channan (13) Yaakobov whose father, Yaacov, was killed in 2006 by a Kassam rocket fired from Gaza to Sderot that penetrated the roof of the factory where he worked.
2007 – To Sara (10), Rivka (9) and Devorah (8) Ben-David whose mother, Hadassah (Yelena), was murdered on Nov. 21, 2002 by a Palestinian who detonated a bomb aboard a crowded morning rush hour Egged commuter bus.
2009 – To the seven children of Meir Avshalom Hai, murdered in December in a drive-by terrorist shooting on the road from his home in Shavei Shomron to Einav in Samaria.
2010 – To the six orphans of Yitzhak and Talya Ames who were murdered by Palestinian terrorists on Aug. 31 at the Bani Na’im junction between Hebron and Beit Hagai.
2011 – To Tamar (12), Roi (8) and Yishai (2) Fogel whose parents Udi (36) and Ruth (35) and three siblings Yoav (11), Elad (4) and Hadas (3) were brutally stabbed to death in their beds on March 11 by two Palestinian terrorists who infiltrated their home in the northern Samarian community of Itamar.
2012 – To Lior (7), Lihi (4) and Itamar (8 months) Shushan whose father, Yossi, was killed on Aug. 20 by a Grad rocket fired from Gaza.
2013 – To Liron (12) and twins Guy and Agam (4) whose mother, Anat Even Haim (34), was murdered by gunman Itamar Alon in a shooting attack at a branch of Bank Hapoalim in Beer Sheva on May 20.
2014 – To the four children of Sergeant Major Bayhesain Kshaun. Kshaun was killed by an anti-tank missile fired at an IDF force responding to a terrorist infiltration on July 21, as part of Operation Protective Edge.
2015 – To Laren Sayif, the infant daughter of Israeli police officer Sgt. Zidan Sayif who was killed in November 2014 as he confronted two Palestinian terrorists who were engaged in a gruesome attack on the Kehilat B’nai Torah synagogue.
2016 – To Yael Weissman for the benefit of her 7-month-old daughter, Neta. Their husband and father, St.-Sgt. Tuvia Yanai Weissman (21), was murdered on Feb. 18 while trying to protect fellow shoppers from two 14-year-old knife-wielding terrorists at the Rami Levy supermarket branch at Sha’ar Benjamin.
2017 – To Irin Satawi to benefit her infant child, Ramos whose father, Druze police officer Advanced Staff Sgt. Maj. Hayil Satawi (30), was murdered on July 14 by three Israeli Arabs at the Temple Mount.
The B’nai B’rith England First Lodge donation went to the five children of Elad Solomon: Avinoam (11), Reut (9), Amitai (5) and twins Ariel and Avishai (1). Solomon was murdered on July 21 at his parents’ home in Neve Tzuf, along with his sister and mother. The presentation was made to their mother Michal who valiantly rescued the children by barricading herself with them in an upstairs room while a Palestinian infiltrator murdered her husband and family during Friday night dinner.
2018 – To Yael Shevach to benefit her six children: Renana (11), Neomi (9), Miriam (7), Milka (5), Ovadia (4) and Benayahu (1) whose husband and father, Rabbi Raziel Shevach (35), was murdered on Jan. 9 in a drive-by terrorist attack near their home in the settlement of Havat Gilad.
A second donation was made to the four children of Rabbi Itamar Ben Gal (29): Avital (6), Daniel (5), Roni (3) and Avraham (1). Ben Gal was a teacher at Bnei Akiva Yeshiva in Givat Shmuel, who was murdered in a stabbing attack near the entrance of Ariel on Feb. 5 while on his way to a family event.
2019 – A gift from the B’nai B’rith First Lodge in England was made on Succoth eve to the 12 children of Rabbi Achiad Ettinger (47): Moriah (22), Efrat (21), Eliashiv (20), Harel (18), Eliasaf (16), Yehuda (14), twins Tehiya and Tzofia (12), Benia (10), twins Eliav and Hadas (8) and Roni (2). The presentation was made to Ettinger’s widow, Tamar, in the family home in the town of Eli, in the Binyamin Regional Council. Ettinger was murdered in a terrorist attack at the Ariel Junction on March 17.
2020 – To the children of Rabbi Shai Ohayon (39): Tohar (13), Hallel (11), Shilo (9) and Malachi (4). Ohayon was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist on Aug. 26 while on the way to collect his children from educational institutions.
B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit bnaibrith.org.
Schneider made the presentation at the family home in the northern Samaria village of Tal Menashe.
In addition to Elyashiv, Esther left her parents, aged 93 and 92, three elder sisters, her husband Benjamin, five grownup children and two grandchildren. Subsequent to the murder, the government approved plans to nearly double the population of Tal Menashe—where Esther and Benjamin were among the founders some 20 years ago—to 250 families.
Horgan worked as an artist, focusing her activities on Judaica and children’s books illustrations, and as a marriage counselor and coach in Hadera, Netanya and Jerusalem. She also contributed articles on psychology and couples therapy to the weekly French-language magazine Le P’tit Hebdo. In Horgan’s memory, the family announced a project to build a fitness and recreation park in the Shaked Forest that will bear witness and tell the story of Esther’s life, for which they are currently raising funds. “Our goal is that we will help visitors play a role in living out Esther’s life by simply celebrating life in nature,” the family said.
The presentation was made as part of the World Center’s project to support Israeli children who have lost a parent or both parents to terror or disease. The World Center has been charged with administering the Edith “Pat” Wolfson Endowment grant since its inception in 2005.
The following previous grants have been made:
2006 – To Salomon (14) and Channan (13) Yaakobov whose father, Yaacov, was killed in 2006 by a Kassam rocket fired from Gaza to Sderot that penetrated the roof of the factory where he worked.
2007 – To Sara (10), Rivka (9) and Devorah (8) Ben-David whose mother, Hadassah (Yelena), was murdered on Nov. 21, 2002 by a Palestinian who detonated a bomb aboard a crowded morning rush hour Egged commuter bus.
2009 – To the seven children of Meir Avshalom Hai, murdered in December in a drive-by terrorist shooting on the road from his home in Shavei Shomron to Einav in Samaria.
2010 – To the six orphans of Yitzhak and Talya Ames who were murdered by Palestinian terrorists on Aug. 31 at the Bani Na’im junction between Hebron and Beit Hagai.
2011 – To Tamar (12), Roi (8) and Yishai (2) Fogel whose parents Udi (36) and Ruth (35) and three siblings Yoav (11), Elad (4) and Hadas (3) were brutally stabbed to death in their beds on March 11 by two Palestinian terrorists who infiltrated their home in the northern Samarian community of Itamar.
2012 – To Lior (7), Lihi (4) and Itamar (8 months) Shushan whose father, Yossi, was killed on Aug. 20 by a Grad rocket fired from Gaza.
2013 – To Liron (12) and twins Guy and Agam (4) whose mother, Anat Even Haim (34), was murdered by gunman Itamar Alon in a shooting attack at a branch of Bank Hapoalim in Beer Sheva on May 20.
2014 – To the four children of Sergeant Major Bayhesain Kshaun. Kshaun was killed by an anti-tank missile fired at an IDF force responding to a terrorist infiltration on July 21, as part of Operation Protective Edge.
2015 – To Laren Sayif, the infant daughter of Israeli police officer Sgt. Zidan Sayif who was killed in November 2014 as he confronted two Palestinian terrorists who were engaged in a gruesome attack on the Kehilat B’nai Torah synagogue.
2016 – To Yael Weissman for the benefit of her 7-month-old daughter, Neta. Their husband and father, St.-Sgt. Tuvia Yanai Weissman (21), was murdered on Feb. 18 while trying to protect fellow shoppers from two 14-year-old knife-wielding terrorists at the Rami Levy supermarket branch at Sha’ar Benjamin.
2017 – To Irin Satawi to benefit her infant child, Ramos whose father, Druze police officer Advanced Staff Sgt. Maj. Hayil Satawi (30), was murdered on July 14 by three Israeli Arabs at the Temple Mount.
The B’nai B’rith England First Lodge donation went to the five children of Elad Solomon: Avinoam (11), Reut (9), Amitai (5) and twins Ariel and Avishai (1). Solomon was murdered on July 21 at his parents’ home in Neve Tzuf, along with his sister and mother. The presentation was made to their mother Michal who valiantly rescued the children by barricading herself with them in an upstairs room while a Palestinian infiltrator murdered her husband and family during Friday night dinner.
2018 – To Yael Shevach to benefit her six children: Renana (11), Neomi (9), Miriam (7), Milka (5), Ovadia (4) and Benayahu (1) whose husband and father, Rabbi Raziel Shevach (35), was murdered on Jan. 9 in a drive-by terrorist attack near their home in the settlement of Havat Gilad.
A second donation was made to the four children of Rabbi Itamar Ben Gal (29): Avital (6), Daniel (5), Roni (3) and Avraham (1). Ben Gal was a teacher at Bnei Akiva Yeshiva in Givat Shmuel, who was murdered in a stabbing attack near the entrance of Ariel on Feb. 5 while on his way to a family event.
2019 – A gift from the B’nai B’rith First Lodge in England was made on Succoth eve to the 12 children of Rabbi Achiad Ettinger (47): Moriah (22), Efrat (21), Eliashiv (20), Harel (18), Eliasaf (16), Yehuda (14), twins Tehiya and Tzofia (12), Benia (10), twins Eliav and Hadas (8) and Roni (2). The presentation was made to Ettinger’s widow, Tamar, in the family home in the town of Eli, in the Binyamin Regional Council. Ettinger was murdered in a terrorist attack at the Ariel Junction on March 17.
2020 – To the children of Rabbi Shai Ohayon (39): Tohar (13), Hallel (11), Shilo (9) and Malachi (4). Ohayon was murdered by a Palestinian terrorist on Aug. 26 while on the way to collect his children from educational institutions.
B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit bnaibrith.org.
