Toulouse: Rabbi Jonathan Sandler and sons buried in Israel

Rabbi Jonathan Sandler and the three young victims of a gunman in Toulouse were buried on Wednesday in Jerusalem, according to the Associated Press.

The four were slain on Monday when a man on a motorcycle opened fire in front of the Ozar Hatorah Jewish school. French police are engaged in a standoff with the suspect, Mohammed Merah, at an apartment building in Toulouse.

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The bodies of the victims, including Rabbi Sandler, his sons Arieh, 5, and Gabriel, 3, and Myriam Monsenego, 8, were flown to Israel early on Wednesday, said the AP.

Myriam's eldest brother wept, calling for God to give his parents the strength "to endure the worst trial that can be endured."

Eva Sandler, the widow of Rabbi Sandler and the mother of two of the victims, cried out, "Come back home," to where they lay in freshly covered graves. Sandler is expecting another child and has one remaining toddler.

According to Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz, Rabbi Sandler was born in Paris and had gone to school in Toulouse. He lived and studied for some time in Jerusalem before returning to France last September.

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The AFP reported that at least 2,000 mourners could be seen at the Givat Shaul cemetery. The rabbi and his sons were wrapped in white prayer shawls while Myriam was wrapped in a blue shroud embellished with gold.

Among the attendees were French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Yishai and parliamentary speaker Reuven Rivlin.

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