Two Canadian victims of a tragic incident at a music festival in southern Israel are being remembered as kind and generous individuals who brought love to the world. Ben Mizrachi, 22, from Vancouver, and Alexandre Look, 33, a former Montreal resident, lost their lives when Hamas gunmen opened fire at the event over the weekend.
Ezra Shanken, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, expressed his deep sadness and described the moment as a tragic time for their community. Shanken had sat with Mizrachi’s family as they anxiously hoped for their son’s safe return, but it was later confirmed that he was among those killed. Shanken emphasized the impact of Mizrachi’s loss on people around the world, highlighting how he was a young man who brought joy and love to others.
Look’s friend, Lior Horovitz, spoke of him as a once-in-a-lifetime person and described their close bond during their five-year friendship. Look, who had relocated from Montreal to Mexico, was known for his generosity and willingness to help others, especially those from the Jewish community.
Mizrachi and Look were among the hundreds killed in the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict after Hamas militants launched attacks in various areas, including the music festival attended by thousands of people. The death toll is expected to rise as Israel continues airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. Various foreign governments, including Canada, are working to determine how many of their citizens have been affected.
Russ Klein, the head of King David High School in Vancouver, recalled Mizrachi as a larger-than-life individual with a big personality during his time at the school. Klein described Mizrachi as a good-hearted young man who brought joy to everyone he knew. He shared an anecdote about Mizrachi praying at an ancient fortress in Israel while wearing his favorite Vancouver Canucks’ hockey jersey.
Hilit Nurick, a home economics teacher at the school, praised Mizrachi for his kindness, wonderful nature, and community-mindedness. She highlighted an event organized by Mizrachi, which brought together more than 100 people and showcased his incredible quality as a human being.
Ezra Shanken noted that Mizrachi had planned to start university in Israel following his service in the Israeli Defence Forces. Shanken urged the community to support Israel during this difficult time and emphasized the magnitude of the tragedy, comparing it to the Holocaust.
Meanwhile, in Montreal, demonstrators gathered in front of the Israeli consulate to show solidarity. Lauren Lieberman, a childhood friend of Alexandre Look, emphasized Look’s heroic actions during the incident. She described him as someone with a big heart who would do anything for others. Another childhood friend, Jess Abezis, reminisced about Look’s humorous nature and his love for being in the spotlight, even as a child.
Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong criticized the Canadian government for not providing timely assistance to Canadians wanting to leave Israel. Chong urged the Prime Minister to take immediate action, pointing out that other countries, such as Mexico, Brazil, and Poland, had already sent aircraft to evacuate their citizens.
In response, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly announced plans to airlift Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and their families out of Tel Aviv with assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces. The Canadian government is aware of one confirmed Canadian death and reports of another, as well as three Canadians who are still missing. There are more than 3,234 Canadians registered in Israel and 478 in the Palestinian territories.
As the conflict continues and the death toll rises, the international community remains eager for a resolution and peace in the region.
