Heartbreaking Last Texts of Kosher Supermarket Victim Yoav Hattab

Image by Chabad.org

By Lior Zaltzman January 16, 2015

One of the kosher supermarket terror victims reportedly pleaded with a friend to observe Shabbat in his heartbreaking final texts just minutes before the deadly carnage erupted.

Chabad published the last text message exchange of 21-year-old Yoav Hattab, one of the victims killed at a kosher supermarket in Paris last week.

In the exchange, Hattab urges his friend to observe Shabbat, because “there are difficult times in France for the Jews”.

The text conversation took just an hour before terrorist Amedy Coulibaly entered the Hyper Kasher kosher supermarket and killed Hattab, along with three others on Jan. 9. Hattab is the son of Tunis’ chief rabbi.

Translation:
Yoav: Try to observe the Shabbat as soon as you arrive
Friend: This shabbat is stressful, I have exams tomorrow morning and I’m flying, but next Shabbat for sure
Yoav: These are difficult times in France for the Jews. So, at least try.
Yoav: Don’t do everything but at least try.
Friend: Yes, no worries! For sure.
Yoav: You’re the bomb.
Friend: lol, thank you.

Lior Zaltzman was the Forward’s Digital Fellow. Follow her on twitter @liorca.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO