Funeral held for Alexandre Look, the Montreal man killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack
A funeral was held on Thursday for the Montreal man who was killed in Israel in the attacks led by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.
Family, friends and Jewish leaders poured into Paperman and Sons Funeral Home to say goodbye to Alexandre Look, 33, who was among those who died during the Hamas-led attack on the electronic music festival near the Gaza-Israel border.
"[He was a] great, great soul, a great person," said Look's friend Michael Amar. "I'm going to miss him dearly."
Amar said he is still processing the loss.
"It's sad what happened to him," he said. "It was a tragic event in the way he was taken, but he's a hero in our hearts."
An Israeli flag drapes the casket of Alexandre Look following his funeral service in Montreal, Thursday, October 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Look called his family in Montreal in a panic shortly after gunfire rang out at the festival and tried to find shelter. His family said he died fending off the attackers as he tried to save others.
"A wonderful young man who died a hero's death saving other people in the worst moment that we could ever possibly imagine," said Rabbi Reuben Poupko of the Beth Israel Beth Aaron Congregation. "He stood up as a hero."
The funeral for Alexandre Look, 33, was held on Oct. 26, 2023. He was among those killed in the Hamas-led attack at the music festival near the Gaza-Israel border on Oct. 7. (Angela MacKenzie/CTV News)
The last few weeks have left many in Montreal's Jewish community shaken.
"I never thought in 2023 that we'd be witnessing such a catastrophe that is going on now in the Middle East," said Polly Storozum, who was at the funeral.
It's a tragedy far away that hits close to home.
"I feel horrible for [his father] Alain, [mother] Raquel and their family," said Canadian MP Anthony Housefather. "I feel terrible for everyone who knew Alexandre, and it's just really sad."
People arrive for the funeral service for Alexandre Look in Montreal, Thursday, October 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Health minister 'deeply appreciative' of doctors but capital gains changes here to stay
Health Minister Mark Holland says while he is 'deeply appreciative' of the work doctors in Canada do, the federal government has no plans to scrap the proposed capital gains tax changes outlined in the latest budget, despite opposition from the Canadian Medical Association.
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
'Of course, yes': Poland latest European country with interest in Canadian LNG
The President of Poland says his country would 'of course' be interested in purchasing Canadian liquefied natural gas if it were available, while the Canadian federal government has said it is 'not interested' in subsidizing future projects.
What Trudeau's podcast appearances say about the Liberals' next ballot box question
Trudeau recently appeared on four podcasts as he travels the country talking up the Liberals' latest budget, which he's pitching as a plan to inject more economic fairness into society for those under 40 — a cohort that has kept Trudeau in power since 2015 but is increasingly turning to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Passage of harsh anti-2SLGBTQ+ law in Iraq draws diplomatic backlash
Human rights groups and diplomats criticized a law that was quietly passed by the Iraqi parliament over the weekend that would impose heavy prison sentences on gay and transgender people.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
A munitions explosion at a Cambodian army base kills 20 soldiers, but its cause is unclear
Security was tight around a military base in southwestern Cambodia on Sunday, a day after a huge explosion there killed 20 soldiers, wounded others and damaged nearby houses.