A JOYFUL 10-year-old girl, a French tourist, a British Rabbi and a Holocaust survivor have been identified as victims of the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi beach over the weekend.
Online tributes have been pouring in for the 15 confirmed victims of the terror attack, which occurred during a Jewish event on Sunday celebrating Hanukkah at the iconic Australian location.
New South Wales premier Chris Minns said the victims are aged between 10 and 87 years old.
Five people are still fighting for their lives, police confirmed.
It is Australia’s worst mass shooting in 30 years.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese called the attack an “act of pure evil” and one which “deliberately targeted” the Jewish community.
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He said: “An act of antisemitism, an act of terrorism on our shores in an iconic Australian location, Bondi Beach.
“Yesterday was indeed a dark day in our nation’s history. But we as a nation are stronger than the cowards who did this.”
It comes as the emotional last words of the brave shopkeeper who disarmed one of the Bondi Beach terrorists have been revealed – along with pictures of the hero recovering in hospital.
Ahmed Al Ahmed, 43, told his cousin, Jozay Alkanj, he was going to die before valiantly wrestling the rifle out of the hands of one of the gunmen in the attack that killed 15.
Matilda, 10
The youngest confirmed victim has been identified as 10-year-old Matilda.
Matilda’s aunt Linda confirmed the heartbreaking news on social media.
“A great tragedy has happened to my family. Yesterday my beloved niece Matilda was killed during a terrorist attack in Bondi beach,” she said.
“I don’t know how we survive such grief.”
A GoFundMe site has been set by Matilda’s teacher Irina Goodhew, who described her as as a “bright, joyful, and spirited child”.
The donations will go directly to Matilda’s mother.
And Elkayam, 27
Confirmed by the French Foreign Minister on X, 27-year-old French national Dan Elkayam has been confirmed as one of the deceased.
Dan moved to Australia about a year ago from France to pursue his career as an engineer.
Upon making the move down under, he became an “integral” member of the Rockdale Ilinden Football Club, who paid tribute to their star player.
“Dan who was an extremely talented and popular figure amongst team mates. Our deepest and sincerest condolences to Dan’s family, friends and all that knew him,” the club wrote.
“He will be missed , May he Rest in Peace – Memory be Eternal.”
Eli Snaker, 41
British-born father-of-five Rabbi Eli Schlanger was one of the organisers of the Chanukah by the Sea event.
His youngest son was only born in October this year.
His cousin Rabbi Zalman Lewis described him as a “truly an incredible guy”.
“My dear cousin, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was murdered in today’s terrorist attack in Sydney,” Rabbi Lewis wrote online.
“He leaves behind his wife, young children, as well as my uncle and aunt, and his siblings.”
Rabbi Schlanger was an assistant rabbi at the Chabad mission in Bondi where he had served the community for nearly two decades, the Jewish organisation said in a statement.
“Schlanger was a devoted rabbi and chaplain,” the Chabad said, adding that he worked tirelessly “to support Jewish life in the Bondi community.”
“For 18 years, the Schlangers served the Jewish community, but the rabbi’s influence extended far beyond the walls of a single synagogue. He served as chaplain to NSW Corrective Services and NSW Prisoners of War; he was also chaplain at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst, where he ministered to patients and families,” the Chabad said.
Peter Meagher
Peter Meagher, known as “Marzo”, was a former police Detective Sergeant who took up hobby photography in his retirement.
He is believed to have been at Bondi Beach on a photography assignment when the massacre unfolded.
Peter was heavily involved in the New South Wales rugby community and he was also volunteered at the Randwick Rugby Club- the Galloping Greens.
Rugby Australia, NSW Rugby Union and the NSW Waratahs joined Randwick and the entire rugby community in mourning Peter online.
Marzo was described as a dedicated volunteer who put in countless hours as first grade team manager and a volunteer referee, following in his father and grandfathers footsteps in serving the club.
“We extend our sincere condolences to Peter’s family, friends and club mates as well as all the victims of Sunday’s tragedy,” the club said.
Alex Kleytman, 87
Alex Kleytman was a Holocaust survivor and died while protecting his wife of 57 years, Larisa.
He was a beloved grandfather and member of the Jewish community in Sydney.
Larisa told the Daily Mail he was shot because he raised himself up to protect her from the gunmen.
Kleytman, a native of Ukraine, leaves behind his wife, two children and 11 grandchildren, according to the Jewish organisation Chabad.
Tibor Weitzen
Tibor Weitzen, 78, was a member of Bondi’s Chabad Synagogue and attended the Chanukah By the Sea event on Sunday with his family.
The beloved grandfather reportedly shielded his wife from the attack to save her life and tragically lost his own while doing so.
He has been remembered by his family as a “sweet grandpa” who “loved life”.
His granddaughter told 9News: “We were just yesterday with him. We had coffee at Bondi Junction with him yesterday, and just… I didn’t know this was going to be, you know, the last day.”
Reuven Morrison
Reuven was an assistant at Bondi’s Wellington Street synagogue and was in attendance at the Chanukah event at Bondi Beach on Sunday.
He was a longtime Melbourne resident, having originated from the Soviet Union.
It wasn’t until he moved to Sydney that he discovered his Jewish identity, Jewish organisation Chabad said on X.
He was a successful businessman whose main goal was to give away his earnings to charities dear to his heart.
Reuven had left the beach to meet his friend Vladimir in the car park when the shooting began.
Vladimir recalled the harrow moment when Reuven put himself in harm’s way to protect his friend.
“I was leaving. I asked Reuven about what time to turn on the Chanukah lights and then I was walking away,” Vladimir told the Daily Mail.
“I saw everything and now my best friend is dead. He died in front of me.”
Vladimir explained how Reuven was trying to help people get low to the ground before he made efforts to move towards the shooter to disarm him.
That was the moment Reuven was shot.
Yakkov Levitan
Rabbi Yaakov Levitan was secretary of the Sydney Beth Din and was “deeply involved in Chabad operations in Sydney,” according to the organisation.
Rabbi Levitan was working at the Chanukah event distributing tefillin – two small, black leather boxes containing Torah scrolls that are worn by male adult Jews committed to performing the Jewish rite.
Marika Pogany, 82
Local media have confirmed the sad news of Marika Pognay’s death on Sunday.
She was a dedicated and award winning volunteer for the Jewish community.
In 2022, she received an award for delivering 12,000 kosher Meals on Wheels over the course of more than two decades.