Fifteen Killed in Bondi Beach Hanukkah Terror Attack, Including 10‑Year‑Old Girl and Holocaust Survivor

On Sunday evening, two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing fifteen people, including a 10‑year‑old girl, rabbis, a Holocaust survivor and a grandfather.

The Attack

The incident took place during the “Chanukah by the Sea” event organized by Chabad‑Lubavitch of Bondi. Federal police commissioner said the attack was a terrorist act inspired by the Islamic State group.

The Youngest Victim

Matilda, a 10‑year‑old whose last name has been withheld, was the youngest person killed. Her language teacher, Irina Goodhew, who launched a GoFundMe for the family, described her in a Facebook post as a gentle girl who saw beauty in everyone.

“Matilda was a bright and loving soul who taught us that true goodness is found in the love and compassion we share,” Goodhew wrote. “Her memory reminds us to carry kindness in our hearts and spread it to the world. May the light of her eyes live on through us — in our actions, our words, and our love for one another.”

The Assistant Rabbi

Eli Schlanger, 41, London‑born, was the assistant rabbi who organized the event. He was a father of five, the youngest of whom was born two months ago. Schlanger also served as chaplain to the state’s corrective services department and to a Sydney hospital, where he ministered to patients and families.

“Eli was a very special person,” Wright told The Associated Press while standing near a cordoned‑off section of Bondi the morning after the attack, a black box containing Torah verses strapped to his arm. “He spent a lot of his time trying to get Jews to do one good deed.”

A Pillar of the Community

Yaakov Levitan, 39, originally from Johannesburg, was known for his kindness and dedication. Chabad described him as a “vital, behind‑the‑scenes pillar” of Sydney’s Jewish community. He served as general manager of Chabad of Bondi and worked with the Sydney Beth Din, the religious court.

The Grandmother Who Delivered Meals

Marika Pogany, 82, was a community volunteer who delivered thousands of kosher meals to those in need. The Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary said she was a source of warmth for thousands of people. COA, a Sydney volunteer service for Jewish seniors, posted on Instagram that she was part of the “beating heart of COA and a source of warmth for thousands of people.”

“For 29 years she arrived at COA with her quiet smile and her steady kindness,” COA wrote. “She lifted the room simply by being in it. She asked for nothing and gave everything.”

Zuzana Čaputová, the former president of Slovakia, called her “Marika” and described Pogany as her “long‑term close friend” who had visited Slovakia every year since 1989.

A ‘Golden Person’ and Soccer Star

Dan Elkayam, 27, a French national, was described by his brother as a “golden person.” He was a talented soccer player who lived with his girlfriend in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. His brother, Jérémie Elkayam, told France Info that Dan was extraordinary, not materialistic, and loved to travel.

“We are four brothers and, of the four, for me he was the kindest of us,” Jérémie said.

Rockdale Ilinden FC, the club he played for, said he was an extremely talented and popular player with the Premier League team and would be sorely missed by teammates and everyone who knew him. Club president Dennis Loether added that those closest to him described him as a down‑to‑earth, happy‑go‑lucky individual warmly embraced by everyone.

French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot wrote on X that Elkayam’s death was “yet another tragic manifestation of a revolting surge in antisemitic hatred that we must defeat.”

A Retired Police Officer and Rugby Legend

Peter Meagher, known to friends as “Marzo,” was a retired police officer and a beloved volunteer at Randwick rugby club. The club condemned the attack and called Meagher an “absolute legend in our club.” It noted he was working as a freelance photographer at the Bondi Hanukkah event and that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A photograph showed “Marzo” written in chalk on a rugby field, along with a team jersey.

A Heroic Bystander

Reuven Morrison, 62, was killed while trying to stop one of the shooters. His daughter, Sheina Gutnick, told CBS News that her father was seen in video footage throwing bricks at the gunman after another passerby, Ahmed al Ahmed, wrestled the gun away.

“I believe after Ahmed managed to get the gun off the terrorist, my father had then gone to try and unjam the gun, to try and attempt shooting. He was screaming at the terrorist,” Gutnick said.

Morrison had migrated from the Soviet Union five decades ago to escape antisemitic persecution. He had hoped Australia would be a safe place to build a family, but the attack shattered that hope.

A Holocaust Survivor Who Protected His Wife

Alex Kleytman, 87, had survived the Holocaust as a child and moved to Australia from Ukraine. His wife, Larisa Kleytman, told reporters outside a Sydney hospital that he died while protecting her.

“We were standing and suddenly came the ‘boom boom’, and everybody fell down,” Larisa said. “At this moment, he was behind me and at one moment he decided to go close to me. He pushed his body up because he wanted to stay near me.”

The couple survived the Holocaust before moving to Australia, according to a 2023 report by JewishCare.

A Grandfather Filled with Pride

Tibor Weitzen, 78, migrated from Israel in 1988. His granddaughter, Leor Amzalak, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that he was “truly the best you could ask for” and that he was proud of his family.

Key Takeaways

• Fifteen people were killed, including a 10‑year‑old girl, rabbis, a Holocaust survivor and a grandfather.
• The attack was deemed a terrorist act inspired by ISIS.
• Victims were community leaders, volunteers, and ordinary citizens who had made Sydney’s Jewish community stronger.

The tragedy at Bondi Beach has left a deep wound in Sydney and a global community that mourns the loss of so many beloved individuals.