At least 15 people died and dozens were injured during a shooting attack on a beach in Bondi, Sydney, Australia. The action took place during a Jewish event and was classified as an “act of vicious anti-Semitism” and terrorism by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The victims include a 10-year-old child and a Holocaust survivor rabbi.
Matilda
The youngest among the victims, the girl was 10 years old. In an interview with ABC News, Matilda’s aunt said that the child’s sister, who was with her at the time of the attack, has had difficulty dealing with the tragedy. “They had never been separated,” he said.
Local authorities confirmed the death information. The Russian Harmony School in Sydney, where the child studied, also lamented what happened on social media.
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Alexander Kleytman
Ukrainian and Holocaust survivor, Kleytman participated in the event with his children and grandchildren. He died protecting his wife, Larisa, from the gunman’s gunfire, according to Chabad, a global organization dedicated to strengthening Jewish culture. He leaves behind a wife, two children and 11 grandchildren.
Rabino Eli Snaker
Born in Great Britain, Rabbi Eli Schlanger was one of the main organizers of the event. The death was confirmed by his cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, who shared the news in an Instagram post, mentioning that he leaves behind his wife, children, parents and siblings. “He was truly an amazing guy,” says the publication.
According to Chabad, he served the Bondi community as a rabbi and chaplain for 18 years.
And Elkayam
The French government confirmed that Dan Elkayam, a French citizen, was also one of the victims of the attack. “It is with deep sadness that I learned of the death of our compatriot Dan Elkayam in the anti-Semitic terrorist attack in Sydney,” said President Emmanuel Macron in a post on social media.
Elkayam had moved to Australia last year to work at NBCUniversal, according to information available on his Linkedin profile.
Rabbi Yaakov Levitan
Chabad confirmed the death of Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, highlighting him as a “popular coordinator” of its activities in Sydney. Levitan also served as secretary of the Sydney Beth Din, a local rabbinical court, and worked at the BINAH Center, focused on Jewish studies.
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Reuven Morrison
“A successful businessman whose main goal was to donate his earnings to charities close to his heart,” Chabad said of Morrison. The organization highlighted that although he had lived in Melbourne for many years, he “discovered his Jewish identity in Sydney”.
Tibor Weitzen
Tibor Weitzen was killed while trying to protect a family friend, Chabad said. He was at the event accompanied by his wife and grandchildren.
HAS ABC NewsLeor Amzalak, one of Weitzen’s granddaughters, said that he had emigrated from Israel in 1988. “He only saw the best in people. He will be greatly missed,” he said in the interview.
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Peter Meagher
“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 central figures and soul of Randwick Rugby,” wrote the team Peter Meagher was part of.
She was a former police officer and was working as a freelance photographer at the Hanukkah event, the charity confirmed.
