Rabbi Reuben Poupko, left, arrives for the funeral service for Alexandre Look in Montreal, Thursday, October 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
MONTREAL – A Montreal man who was killed in Israel during a surprise attack by Hamas earlier this month was remembered as a hero and a “larger-than-life” personality at a funeral Thursday.
A casket draped in the flag of Israel was carried into the packed chapel of a Jewish funeral home in Montreal as the service for Alexandre Look began at 2 p.m.
Look’s father, Alain Look, said his son died while protecting others at the onset of Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7. The 33-year-old was among the hundreds of people who were killed while attending a musical festival near the border between Israel and Gaza.
“Selfishly, I wish just once he would have been less of a hero,” Look told the packed chapel. “We still had so much more living to do. So many more memories to create.”
Look was raised in Montreal and lived in Mexico, but went to visit Israel – a country he loved. On Thursday, his father expressed anger at Israel for failing to prevent the Oct. 7 attack but urged Jews to be inspired by his son to stand together.
“Alex was a proud Zionist. Sadly, Israel failed him and so many others on that black Saturday,” he said. “We must stand united. We are one. Bad things only happen to us when we are divided.”
He also shared fond memories of his son, who was nicknamed “Coco,” and praised his kindness and generosity.
Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral, some weeping openly as the eulogies were read.
One of Look’s friends, Johnny Lallouz, described a man who was exceptionally generous to his friends, family and community, and who opened his doors to him when he was going through a tough time. Others who spoke recounted stories they had been told of how he used his body to shield other festival-goers during the attack, potentially saving their lives.
Paul Hirschson, the consul general of Israel in Montreal, addressed the mourners and apologized to Look’s parents for what happened. “Raquel, Alain, I’m sorry we couldn’t protect your boy and one of his friends,” he said. Moments later, he added, “I made you one promise: we’ll bring him home. Alex is home.”
Global Affairs Canada says six Canadian citizens and one person with deep connections to Canada have died in the current hostilities, while two Canadians remain missing.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2023.
