Philippe Braham

Yoav Hattab had just returned home from a visit to Israel, Yohan Cohen saved a 3-year-old when he fought the terrorist, Philippe Braham always wanted to make aliyah and Francois-Michel Saada lived for his family's happiness; these are the four lives lost in the Friday attack.

Ynet reporters

Published: 01.11.15, 00:36 / Israel News

The terror attack on a Paris kosher supermarket on Friday will be laid to rest on Tuesday in the Mount of Olives cemetery in Jerusalem, according to Robert Ejnes, the director of the CRIF, an umbrella organization of French Jewish communities, who is coordinating the transfer of the victims' bodies to Israel.

Philippe Braham

Philippe Braham was a father of four, his brother-in-law Shai Ben-David told Ynet, one child was from his first marriage and three from his second marriage to Ben-David's sister, Valerie.

His first son with Valerie (he also has an older daughter) passed away three years ago. "This was an incomprehensible tragedy for my sister. She survived only thanks to his strength," Ben-David said. 

Philippe was a computer engineer and recently worked as an insurance agent near the supermarket. He went shopping there before the Sabbath when the attack occurred.

An Observant Jew, Philippe attended the synagogue in Montrouge, a Parisian suburb. His brother is the rabbi of the synagogue in Pantin, another suburb of Paris.

"He was a man who always wore a kippah, a Zionist whose dream was to make aliyah and he never made it. Every time he used to tell me, 'God willing we'll come, we'll make aliyah soon.'

"He loved Israel. He buried his parents and son here. He was an observant man who never harmed anyone. He visited Israel many times, the last time was several months ago to bury his mother. God avenge his blood,"

he said.

"We want him to be buried in Israel. The prime minister called my sister an hour and a half ago and promised Philippe will receive a state funeral,"

Ben-David added.

Refael Braham, Philippe's 14-year-old son, was in Israel when he received the horrible news of his father's murder.

"He was very close to his father and took it really hard," said the head of the French aliyah project in the Netanya municipality. "He has been crying and refusing to believe he lost his father."

"Dad went to the supermarket to shop for Shabbat. When I was with him (in France), we'd go shopping together quite often. If I hadn't made aliyah to Israel, I might have gone with him this time as well and gotten hurt,"

Refael said.

"Our son was saved from the attack,"

Carol, Refael's mother and Philippe's ex-wife, said. "

There's hatred of Jews there, everyone needs to make aliyah to Israel. All Jews need to reach the conclusion Israel is better and safer for them. I came to Israel with my son and we feel safest here, we feel at home."

On the decision to make aliyah, Carol said:

"Refael visited Israel and wanted to stay, while I saw all of the mess in France - Muslims' protested against Jews on our street and in our building."

Carol and Refael came to Israel in September, and were hoping Philippe would follow them, but on Saturday evening they received the horrible news.

"There's no end in sight to the violence and hatred against Jews in France, we don't know where it's leading and what else could happen. People abroad need to know they're in danger,"

Carol said.