Egypt's Dwindling Jewish Community Buries Deputy Leader

The deputy head of Egypt's dwindling Jewish community was buried Tuesday in a ceremony led by her sister.

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Nadia Haroun, lawyer and architect, was 59 when she died Thursday. According to longtime friend Nevin Amin, the cause of death was a heart attack.

Haroun's sister Magda, the leader of Egypt's Jewish community, led the ceremony in Cairo's downtown Gates of Heaven Synagogue. The ceremony was attended by a handful of the remaining members of the aging community and several Egyptian public figures.

Most of Egypt's once-thriving Jewish community left more than 60 years ago. Today, less than 40 remain.

Haroun was a daughter of prominent politician Chehata Haroun, known for his anti-Zionist politics. He defended Egyptian Jews against accusations that they were more loyal to Israel than Egypt, at the peak of the Mideast wars.

Haroun is survived by a son and daughter.