Holocaust survivor, 10-year-old girl among victims of Bondi Beach attack

U Deadly terror attack on Hanukkah The celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, left at least 15 dead, including a 10-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor and an elderly couple.

Australian authorities have identified the attackers as a father-son duo and said that The attack was inspired by ISIS. The father was killed at the scene, while the son was shot by the police and taken for medical attention.

Matilda Britvan

The youngest victim of the deadly rampage was 10-year-old Matilda Britvan.

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Lina Chernykh, Britvan’s aunt, said 9 News from Australia that her granddaughter was “a happy child” and “open”.

“Everywhere she went, she was like sunshine,” Chernykh told the outlet.

Britvan and his six-year-old sister were enjoying the Hanukkah celebrations when the gunmen opened fire, according to 9News. The 10-year-old girl was shot in front of her sister and was taken to the hospital, but could not be saved, 9News reported.

A GoFundMe raised by Britvan’s teacher, Irina Goodhew, described her as “a bright, joyful and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her”.

“Matilda was a bright and loving soul who taught us that true goodness is in the love and compassion we share. Her memory reminds us to carry kindness in our hearts and spread it to the world,” the GoFundMe page reads.

Alex Kleytman

Alex Kleytman, 87, was a Holocaust survivor from Ukraine. He and his 57-year-old wife, Larisa Kleytman, who is also a Holocaust survivor, were celebrating Hanukkah on Bondi Beach when the attack began.

Chabadan international Jewish organization, said that Alex died while protecting Larisa from gunmen’s bullets. The organization noted that, in addition to his wife, Alex leaves behind 11 grandchildren.

“I don’t have a husband. I don’t know where his body is. No one can give an answer,” Larisa told reporters outside the Sydney hospital on Sunday, according to. the BBC.

“We were standing and suddenly came the “boom boom”, and everyone fell. At this moment, he was behind me and in a moment he decided to go next to me. He pushed his body, because he wanted to stay next to me”, Larisa told the Australian media, according to the BBC.

Rabbi Eli Snaker

Rabbi Eli Schlanger was the assistant Rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the “Chanukah by the Sea” event, according to Chabad. The organization said Schlanger had served as a rabbi and chaplain for the Bondi community for 18 years.

In September, Schlanger wrote a letter to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, ordering him “not to betray the Jewish people”. The letter, which has gained renewed attention since the deadly attack, has been published Snaker’s Facebook page. Schlanger told Albanese that he had “an opportunity to stand on the side of truth and justice.”

The letter was written shortly after Australia voted at the United Nations to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Boris and Sofia Gurman

Boris and Sofia Gurman, a Russian-Jewish couple, confronted one of the gunmen before the attack on Bondi Beach began. While they were able to disarm him momentarily, the assailant took another gun and killed the couple.

The Gurmans had celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in January, according to a GoFundMe set up for the family. They were also due to celebrate Sofia’s 62nd birthday on December 17, just days after she was killed.

“They were people of deep kindness, quiet strength and uninterrupted care for others. Dedicated to their family and others, their absence has left a void that cannot be filled.” the GoFundMe reads. “In the moments before his death, Boris – with Sofia courageously next to him – tried to intervene to protect others. This act of bravery and altruism reflects exactly what they were: people who instinctively chose to help, even at great personal risk.”

Edith Brutman

Edith Brutman served as vice-chair of an anti-prejudice and anti-discrimination committee in B’nai B’rith New South Wales (NSW), according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Ernie Friedlander, the chairman of the Alfred Dreyfus committee, who worked closely with Brutman, told the Sydney Morning Herald that she was “a very intelligent woman” who was “passionate about dealing with prejudice and discrimination”.

“He was always there, and he had very strong opinions,” Friedlander added.

The Brutman family released a statement about Edith’s death to ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), remembering her as “a woman of integrity”.

“Our beloved Edith was a woman of integrity who chose humanity, every day. She met prejudice with principle, and division with service,” read the statement.

Republic of the Realviant

Rabbi Yaakov Levitan served as secretary of the Sydney Beth Din (a rabbinical court) and was “deeply involved in Chabad operations in Sydney”. Chabad said. The organization also claimed that Levitan worked at the BINA, a center for Jewish learning.

Chabad described Levitan as a “popular coordinator” of the organization’s activities in Sydney, Australia.

“Yaakov Levitan was a much-loved and active member of the Sydney Jewish community.” a crowdfunding page approved by Chabad read. “He was a man of quiet devotion, known for his kindness and tireless work to help others, including his commitment to distributing tefillin as a sacred act of service.”

“His senseless killing has left an irreplaceable void,” the page added. “Yaakov was the rock of his family: a devoted husband and father.”

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And Elkayam

Dan Elkayam, a 27-year-old French national, was a footballer for the Rockdale Ilinden Football Club. His death was confirmed by the French president Emmanuel Macron and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.

“It is with immense sadness that we learned that our compatriot Dan Elkayam was among the victims of the terrorist attack that struck Jewish families gathered on Bondi Beach in Sydney,” Barrot wrote on X, according to a BBC translation. “We mourn with his family and loved ones, with the Jewish community and the Australian people.”

Rockdale Ilinden Football Club released a statement mourned Elkayam, saying that he “loved the Australian way of life”.

“Football was his passion – along with spending time on the beach and socializing with friends. His smiling face and respectful nature will be greatly missed by his teammates and everyone who knew him. We pray for him and his family,” wrote the football club.

Elkayam lived with his girlfriend, Krystal Troyano, according to a GoFundMe page established in his honor.

“Dan was taken too soon, and Krystal is now navigating deep grief as she suddenly has to face life on her own,” the page read.

Peter Meagher

Peter Meagher was a retired detective sergeant with the NSW Police and a member of the Randwick Rugby Club.

“Peter was working as a freelance photographer at the unfortunate Hanukkah event, and like all victims, it was just a catastrophic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” the club said. in a statement. “”Marzo”, as he was universally known, was a much-loved figure and an absolute legend at our club, with decades of voluntary involvement, he was one of the heart and soul figures of Randwick Rugby.

Randwick Rugby chief executive Mark Harrison told ABC that Meagher was “one of the heart and soul figures” of the club.

Meagher’s family also gave a statement to the ABC, saying: “Our family is saddened by the loss of our beloved Peter. He was a beloved brother, husband and uncle whose kindness, generosity and love touched all who knew him. Our lives have been changed forever.”

Reuven Morrison

Reuven Morrison, who migrated from the USSR to Australia, tried to protect his community from gunmen, despite being unarmed and alone, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The outlet said Morrison, 62, charged toward the gunmen and appeared to throw an object at them.

Although Morrison lived in Melbourne, he was “deeply connected to Sydney”, according to Chabad, which described Morrison as a “beloved member” of the community.

“A successful businessman whose main goal was to give his earnings to charities close to his heart, especially Chabad of Bondi, which organized the event.” Chabad wrote about X.

Tibor Weitzen

Tibor Weitzen, 78, was remembered in a Chabad post on X as “the beloved ‘candyman’ of the congregation, who brought joy and smiles to all.” The organization said he was killed while trying to protect his loved ones.

“My grandfather was truly the best you could ask for… He was so proud of us… and he loved us more than life itself. He only saw the best in people and he will be greatly missed,” Weitzen’s granddaughter, Leor Amzalak, told ABC.

Chabad said Weitzen was identified by his nephew as the first responder at the scene.

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Marika Pogany

Marika Pogany, 82, was a member of COA Sydney, a voluntary service for Jewish seniors.

“He was not just a long-term volunteer. He was part of the beating heart of COA and a source of warmth for thousands of people over almost 3 decades,” COA Sydney wrote on Facebook. “For 29 years she came to COA with her quiet smile and steady kindness. She lifted the room just to be in it. She asked for nothing and gave everything. She showed us what true service looks like and she did it without fanfare and without ever wanting attention.”

Chabad noted that in 2022 Pogany was recognized for delivering 12,000 kosher meals on Roti over two decades.