Supermarket victims to be buried in Israel
The four Jewish victims of the terrorist attack on the Parisian Kosher supermarket will be buried in Israel.
Yohan Cohen, 22
Yoav Hattab, 21, said to be the son of the Chief Rabbi of Tunis
Phillipe Barham, in his 40s
François-Michel Saada, in his 60s
Yohav Hattab
Philippe Braham
Their families will accompany the coffins of the four victims and are due to land at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Tuesday morning, 13 January. The interment ceremony is due to be held at Givat Shaul Cemetery in Jerusalem at 12:00. President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, head of the opposition MK Yitzhak Herzog, ministers, MKs, rabbis and additional public figures will attend.
Yohan Cohen
Francois-Michel Saada
Meanwhile in Jerusalem one thousand people participated in a rally to show solidarity on Sunday with the French people and the French Jewish community organized by the Jerusalem Municipality following the terrorist attacks in Paris last week. The rally at City Hall took place under the leadership of the Mayor, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Shlomo Amar, the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Meir Turgeman, former Chairman of the JPierre Besnainou, former Chairman of the Fonds Social Juif Unifié, and hundreds of members of the French community in Jerusalem, as well as many residents.
At the rally, Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat said, “The entire world understands today what we in Jerusalem and in Israel have been experiencing over decades – murderous terrorism motivated by a piercing hatred for our values.” Barkat added that “this is an attack on all of us – the entire Jewish population, freedom of journalism and expression and on the values of freedom that the French democracy and the entire free world hold so dear – freedom, equality and brotherhood that are the basis of our values. This hatred, this call for death, will not stop the Jewish people.” The Mayor called on everyone to strengthen the entire French population and especially to embrace those who have recently lost their loved ones, the Jewish community in France and those who have immigrated to Israel.
“Brothers and sisters – the gates of Jerusalem are open to you. Zion and the entire Jewish world stands beside you. Nous sommes tous Juifs de France, we are all Charlie, we are all Jews of France.” During a moment of silence out of respect for those murdered during in the terror attacks, the crowd waved flags bearing these slogans.
The Jerusalem Municipality, under the directive of Mayor Barkat, will open a special situation room for new immigrants from France in order to assist them in their move to Jerusalem. At the entrance to City Hall, there is a special booth for immigrant absorption manned by French-speaking volunteers who will help the immigrants with all of their absorption needs.
Today, the Municipality placed a large sign in Paris Square in the city-center bearing the words “Jerusalem est Charlie – Jerusalem embraces the French Jewish community.” A special place will be appropriated for the city’s population to pay their respects, to place wreaths and light candles. In addition, the municipality will be hanging 1500 French, Israeli, and Jerusalem flags at the main junctions in the city.
In Paris, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyu joined the throngs marching through Paris streets. he said: ““I marched now in one row with world leaders in order to unite against terrorism. I told them that terrorism, any terrorism, must be fought to the end. I would like to thank our security people, and the French security services, for allowing us – despite not inconsiderable difficulties – to participate in this important rally and to represent the citizens of the State of Israel.”
May HaShem bring the deceased into His light. May they be forever comforted. May their families and friends be comforted, somehow. The newly departed are the great good among us and we are less for their loss to the world. Though I knew them not, I feel the hurt of the loss of them and I know that their families should be forever proud of who they were.
A great many people, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, are with their families in empathy and in sorrow even across the vast seas.
Many of us feel outrage against the murderers and their supporters and the evil ideology from whence they come.
And we will not forget Yohan, Yoav, Philippe and Francois-Michel.
All the universal solidarity, marches and wonderful speeches cannot and will not alter the Islamic juggernaut; shocking as it is, it seems they are winning !