Bondi Beach terror leaves London Rabbi, Holocaust survivors dead | World | News

As the names of the first victims of the devastating Bondi beach shooting, which Australian police and officials described as a terrorist attack, were announced, the death toll rose to 16.

As a result of gunmen opening fire during Hanukkah celebrations, more than 40 people were injured, 38 of whom remained in hospital, five of whom are in critical condition.

It was stated that the first victim identified was 41-year-old London-born rabbi Eli Schlanger.

Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a 41-year-old father of five originally from London, was the first victim named, according to the Guardian Media Group. Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, a Jewish cultural center, was described by his first cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, as “a very friendly, outgoing person who was lively, energetic, full of life and loved helping people.”

Alex Ryvchin, co-chairman of the Executive Council of Australian Jews, told the ABC that Schlanger was “a person who embodied goodness, piety and holiness, literally living for no reason other than to do good deeds.” Rabbi Yossi Friedman said Schlanger was a “great community man,” “full of light” and “very positive, very obsessed with life and bringing joy to everyone.”

Among the dead were Holocaust survivors Alexander and Larisa Kleytman

Holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman was also killed in the attack, according to the statement of his wife Larisa Kleytman, who spoke to reporters in front of St. Vincent Hospital. The couple, who immigrated to Australia from Ukraine, told JewishCare about their heartbreaking experiences during the Holocaust in 2023.

“As children, both Larisa and Alexander faced the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust. Alex’s memories are particularly harrowing – the horrific conditions in Siberia where he struggled to survive with his mother and younger brother,” the Australian Jewish healthcare provider’s 2022/23 annual report reads. “But the wounds of the past did not stop them from seeking a brighter future. They later emigrated from Ukraine and moved to Australia.”

French national Dan Elkayam and former Soviet immigrant Reuven Morrison were also killed

French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed that French national Dan Elkayam was among the victims and expressed his solidarity with his family, loved ones, the Jewish community and the Australian people. “This vile act is a new, tragic manifestation of a rebellious outpouring of anti-Semitic hatred that we must stop,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “France will not spare every effort to eradicate antisemitism wherever it occurs and to combat all forms of antisemitism. The lights of Hanukkah must not and will not go out.”

Elkayam was a member of the Arncliffe Aurora Football Club in Sydney’s south and has been named in the premier league squad for the upcoming 2026 season. “Dan was a valued and highly respected member of our football community. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, teammates and everyone who loved him during this unimaginably difficult time,” the club wrote on Instagram. “Dan will always remain part of our club.”

Reuven Morrison, also known as Rueben, who immigrated to Australia from the former Soviet Union in the 1970s, was also killed in the attack. Chabad.org reports that Morrison splits his time between Sydney and Melbourne and is “a successful businessman whose main goal is to donate his earnings to charities he loves.” In a 2024 interview with the ABC, Morrison said that he had been persecuted as a Jew in the Soviet Union but did not expect this to happen in Australia. “We came here with the idea that Australia is the safest country in the world and that Jews will not face this kind of antisemitism in the future and that we can raise our children in a safe environment,” he said.

A 10-year-old girl and an Israeli citizen were among the dead.

Matilda Poltavchenko, just 10 years old, has been named as the youngest of the victims known so far. Heartbroken relatives described him as a “smart, cheerful and energetic” child.

Her aunt Lina confirmed the devastating news on social media, writing: “Yesterday my beloved niece Matilda was killed in the terrorist attack on Bondi Beach. I don’t know how we survived so much pain.”

A GoFundMe page set up to support Matilda’s mother, Valentina Poltavchenko, had raised more than $10,000 as of Monday morning.

The fundraiser was organized by Matilda’s language teacher, Irina Goodhew, who said: “I knew her as a bright, cheerful and energetic child who was a light to everyone around her. Her young life came to a tragic end as we celebrated Hanukkah. Her memory will live on in our hearts.”

Local heroes and Jewish community leaders among the injured

The 43-year-old greengrocer from Sutherland Shire, who rushed to the scene to tackle one of the gunmen, was hailed as a local hero. He suffered two gunshot wounds but is recovering in hospital. Arsen Ostrovsky, head of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council Sydney office, and Evan Zlatkis, media director of the Executive Council of Australian Jews, were also injured in the attack.

Ostrovsky, an international human rights lawyer and long-time contributor to the Jerusalem Post, was named among the injured by the publication. The Jerusalem Post reported that Ostrovsky was receiving treatment and was communicating with people via WhatsApp. “[I’m] inside [the] Ostrovsky wrote to the Jerusalem Post: “The bullet missed the head. There is a lot of bleeding. The doctors said the miracle was that he survived, it was that close. Now he had stitches. The worst thing was being separated from my wife and children at that moment. When I went towards them, I was shot. Fortunately, they came out. There were children and elderly people everywhere, it was a complete bloodbath. It felt like a scene from Nova. But at the same time, it was incredible to see everyone rushing to help. It was surreal.”

Zlatkis told the Daily Telegraph he heard “dozens and dozens” of gunshots. He said he felt himself bleeding as he ran away. “I thought it was a rubber bullet, but it got stuck in my skin and leg,” he said. “I was shot too. They wrapped me up. I’m fine.”

Prime Minister confirms victims range in age from 10 to 87

New South Wales premier Chris Minns confirmed on Monday morning that the ages of those killed were between 10 and 87 and that official identification was still pending. The attack sent shock waves through the Jewish community and the nation as a whole; The leaders expressed their condolences and vowed to combat anti-Semitism in all its forms.

As the investigation into the Bondi beach attack continues, the victims’ stories serve as a heartbreaking reminder of the lives lost and the lasting impact this senseless act of terrorism had on their families, friends and communities.