The vibrant joy of a Hanukkah celebration at Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach was shattered by unimaginable violence last Sunday. Two gunmen opened fire on the festive gathering, claiming 15 lives and leaving at least 40 wounded in an attack that has left a community, and indeed the world, reeling in shock and sorrow.
Among the victims were individuals whose stories painted a poignant picture of human experience and connection. Ten-year-old Matilda Britvan, a “happy kid” described by her aunt as “a sun” everywhere she went, was fatally shot in front of her younger sister. Her radiant spirit, just beginning to shine, was cruelly extinguished.
We also mourn Alex Kleytman, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor, who had come to Bondi Beach with his wife, also a survivor, to celebrate a festival they cherished for many years. Married for 57 years, their incredible journey through history ended in such a heartbreaking way.
The community also lost cherished leaders like Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who had helped organize the very event where he was killed. A husband and father of five, including a two-month-old, Rabbi Schlanger embodied service and dedication. His cousin vowed that the light of Hanukkah would triumph, a sentiment Rabbi Schlanger would surely echo. French citizen Dan Elkayam, a talented soccer player who had recently moved to Sydney seeking new opportunities, and Marika Pogany from Slovakia, a beloved friend, were also among those taken too soon.
The attack, which saw French, Slovak, and Israeli citizens among the dead, reminds us of the profound impact of such violence. Bondi Beach, a place synonymous with light and life, now carries the indelible mark of this profound loss. As the community grieves, the memory of those lost serves as a powerful reminder of the preciousness of life and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
