Loved and forever remembered. These are the victims of the Bondi Beach antisemitic massacre

A 10-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor and a young French national were among at least 15 people killed when two gunmen opened fire on families celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach on Sunday, an attack that police have declared a terrorist incident.

Those killed in Australia’s worst mass shooting in almost 30 years are yet to officially be identified, but their families and friends are paying tribute to those they have lost.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the victims were between 10 and 87 years old.

Here’s what we know about them.

Matilda

Matilda, 10, was described by her aunt as a “very sweet, happy child, with a beautiful smile.”

She was enjoying the festivities at Bondi Beach with her parents, younger sister and friends, when the two gunmen opened fire. Matilda was wounded in the shooting and rushed to hospital, where doctors fought unsuccessfully to save her.

“Kids are supposed to be happy. They should be playing on the beach, not thinking about bullets flying around,” said her aunt Lina, who did not wish to share the family’s surname.

Matilda’s parents reflected on their daughter’s final moments during a memorial event on Wednesday. “Like she’s running around happy and then…what I see before my eyes is she’s lying on the ground,” her mother, Valentyna, said through tears.

Her father, Michael, recounted wrapping his shirt around his daughter as she told him she was struggling to breathe.

Matilda’s language teacher described her as a “bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her.” The teacher, Irina Goodhew, launched a GoFundMe page on behalf of Matilda’s family.

The family had moved from Ukraine to Australia in the 1990s, and enjoyed walks on the beach, picnics in the park and walks to the zoo, Lina said.

The Harmony Russian School of Sydney, in a statement posted on Facebook, said Matilda was a former student. “We honor her life and the time she spent as part of our school family,” the post said.

At a public memorial at Bondi Pavilion on Tuesday, Matilda’s father, Michael, told the crowd that he named his daughter Matilda because she was his first child born in Australia, according to footage posted by Reuters. “I thought that Matilda is the most Australian name to ever exist,” Michael said.

Tearful and out of breath, Valentyna said that after leaving Ukraine, she “could not imagine I would lose my daughter here.”

After embracing his mother, Matilda’s brother, who did not give his name, said that he took comfort in knowing that his sister “knew she was loved.”

Rabbi Eli Schlanger

Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, organized the “Chanukah by the Sea” event at Bondi Beach and served as assistant rabbi at the Chabad of Bondi, the Jewish organization said in a statement.

“Schlanger was a devoted rabbi and chaplain,” Chabad said, adding that he worked tirelessly “to support Jewish life in the Bondi community.”

Chabad is a global Jewish organization that seeks to promote Jewish identity and connection.

Born in London, Schlanger studied in France before being ordained as a rabbi in Brooklyn, New York City, the organization said.

Schlanger also served as a community chaplain in hospitals and prisons, “working tirelessly to bring warmth, faith, and Jewish pride to everyone he encountered,” a crowdfunding page endorsed by Chabad and dedicated to Schlanger said.

Schlanger’s cousin Rabbi Zalman Lewis described him as “truly an incredible guy,” in a Facebook post. “He leaves behind his wife & young children, as well as my uncle & aunt & siblings.”

The rabbi was a father of five, whose youngest son was only born in October, Chabad confirmed.

Alex Kleytman

Alex Kleytman, 87, was a Holocaust survivor who died while shielding his wife Larisa from one of the gunmen’s bullets.

“He was a fascinating person of many talents and an unwavering spirit,” his family said in a statement released by New South Wales Police. “He survived the hardships of World War II in frozen Siberia, carrying with him a lifetime of extraordinary stories of resilience, survival, and unexpected luck”

A native of Ukraine, Kleytman leaves behind his wife, two children and 11 grandchildren.

Kleytman worked as a civil engineer and estimator before becoming a lobbyist and author after retirement. He discovered faith in his 50s and “cherished Australia, the Australian way of life, the freedom, democracy, people,” the family said.

“He loved his wife, Larisa, with unparalleled passion, the kind you only see in the movies,” the family added.

He died “doing what he loved most: protecting Larisa, standing proudly as a Jew, and celebrating the Festival of Lights.”

Dan Elkayam

French national Dan Elkayam, 27, was enjoying the sunny, summer day at the beach and the lighting of the Hanukkah Candles.

“Dan was shot in the back while trying to run away,” his family said in a statement released by New South Wales police. “He was murdered because he was Jewish.”

“He leaves behind his partner in Australia, as well as his parents, brothers, nieces, and nephews in Paris, France, where he was born and raised. He was deeply proud of his community back home in Le Bourget,” the family said.

Elkayam was a football fan and played for Rockdale Ilinden FC’s Premier League 1 team. His club described him as “an extremely talented and popular figure” and said he would be missed.

Alongside football, he loved travel and nature and was “known for his gentle, kind, fun and loving nature,” his family said.

“Dan brought light wherever he went and inspired countless people through the way he lived. His smile could light up any room. He was pure joy - a beautiful and humble soul.”

Following Elkayam’s death, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said that “France will spare no effort to root out antisemitism wherever it emerges and to combat terrorism in all its forms.”

Elkayam had recently moved from France to Australia and was an IT engineer working and being sponsored by global media company NBC Universal.

Rabbi Yaakov Levitan

Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, 39, was a “profoundly beloved and active member of the Sydney Jewish community,” according to a crowdfunding page endorsed by Chabad.

A husband and father, Levitan was the “cornerstone of his family,” the page said, calling him a “a man of quiet devotion, known for his kindness and tireless work in assisting others.”

As well as serving as general manager at the Chabad of Bondi, he was also a secretary at the Sydney Beth Din, which Chabad describes as a Jewish court of law. Levitan was a “key figure” in educational initiatives at BINA, a Jewish center of learning, according to the crowdfunding page.

Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Levitan was described by Chabad as “a vital, behind-the-scenes pillar of Sydney’s Jewish infrastructure.”

He is survived by his wife and four children between the ages of six and 16, Chabad said.

Reuven Morrison

Reuven Morrison, 62, was a businessman, philanthropist and a longtime resident of Melbourne, Chabad said.

When the attack unfolded, Morrison appeared to try and “distract the terrorists by making himself a bigger target, allowing others to flee,” according to Chabad.

Morrison was originally from the former Soviet Union and had come to Australia in the 1970s “seeking a safe environment far away from the persecution he had experienced,” the organization added.

He was remembered as being “known for his kindness and generosity,” and as someone whose “main goal was to give away his earnings to charities dear to his heart,” Chabad said.

Morrison leaves behind a wife, daughter, and grandchildren, it added.

Peter Meagher

Peter Meagher, a former NSW police detective and rugby club member, is being remembered by his family as “a cherished brother, husband and uncle whose kindness, generosity and love touched everyone who knew him.”

Meagher was working as a freelance photographer at the Hanukkah event at the time of the attack.

He had served in the police force for 35 years, rising to the position of Detective Sergeant until he retired in 2020. “Peter also spent countless hours doing volunteer work in retirement including in various roles for his beloved Randwick Rugby Union Football Club,” the family said in a statement.

“’Marzo’ as he was universally known, was a much-loved figure and absolute legend in our club, with decades of voluntary involvement, he was one of the heart and soul figures of Randwick Rugby,” Randwick Rugby Club said.

“The tragic irony is that he spent so long in the dangerous front line as a Police Officer and was struck down in retirement while taking photos in his passion role is really hard to comprehend,” the club added.

Tibor Weitzen

Tibor Weitzen, 78, is being remembered as a “sweet grandpa” who “loved life.”

Weitzen’s granddaughter told CNN affiliate 9News the family is “shattered” by his death. “Just devastating. Honestly, I’ve got no words,” she reportedly said.

Weitzen was a member of Bondi’s Chabad Synagogue and was at the Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach with his wife and grandchildren when gunmen started shooting, 9News reported.

Chabad described Weitzen as “the congregation’s beloved ‘candyman,’ who brought joy and smiles to everyone.” Weitzen, a great-grandfather, “died trying to shield a family friend, who also lost her life,” it added.

Weitzen’s body was discovered by his grandson who was helping to administer first aid to the wounded, his mother Chana Amzalak told CNN.

Amzalak said the family, including her heavily pregnant daughter-in-law and toddler, had run for their lives when the shooting began. The young child was “was so traumatized,” Amzalak said, “she was just crying for hours.”

Amzalak said her son has been in “remote control and helping mode” since the attack.

Marika Pogány

Marika Pogány, 82, was fatally shot while attending Sunday’s Hanukkah event, 9News reported.

“Marika, known lovingly to all as Omi, was a beautiful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and steadfast friend, whose warmth and energy touched countless lives,” her family said in a statement released by New South Wales police.

“Vibrant and full of life, she brought joy and energy into every room and found her greatest happiness surrounded by her adoring family.”

Pogány emigrated from what was then Czechoslovakia in 1968 and became an Australian citizen in 1972.

“She embraced her life as an Aussie” and “had an extraordinary gift for connecting with people,” the family said.

Pogány was a close family friend of Slovakia’s former President Zuzana Čaputová who, in a post on the Slovak Jewish Association’s Facebook page, said only Pogány’s mother and uncle came back from Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

“Sydney was a safe haven for her, away from fascism and communism,” Čaputová said of her late friend.

Pogány was a dedicated volunteer and won several awards for her years of service in 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.

Boris and Sofia Gurman

Boris, and Sofia Gurman, 69 and 61 respectively, were a Russian-Jewish couple living in Bondi, according to CNN affiliate 9News. They have been described as heroes for attempting to stop one of the gunmen in the early stages of the attack.

Dashcam footage shows Boris Gurman trying to disarm the attacker, wrestling him to the ground and grabbing his gun. Boris and Sofia Gurman were fatally shot in the confrontation, becoming the first victims of the rampage, 9News reported.

In a statement, the couple’s family said their actions encapsulated who they were, “people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others.”

“While nothing can lessen the pain of losing Boris and Sofia, we feel an overwhelming sense of pride in their bravery and selflessness,” the family said, 9News reported.

The couple were due to celebrate Sofia Gurman’s birthday and their 35th wedding anniversary in January, the family said.

“Boris was a retired mechanic, known for his generosity, quiet strength and willingness to lend a hand to anyone in need. Sofia worked at Australia Post and was deeply loved by her colleagues and community,” the family said.

Edith Brutman

Edith Brutman was committed to fighting discrimination, her family and friends told Australian media.

“She was a very clever lady, and she was very, very passionate about dealing with prejudice and discrimination,” said Ernie Friedlander, who worked with her at the New South Wales chapter of B’nai B’rith, a Jewish service organization, in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.

“She was always there, and she had very strong opinions.”

In an email exchange with CNN, Friedlander added that “Edith was (a) decent hard-working friend and associate with a big heart and with lots of passion.”

Friedlander, who serves as president of B’nai B’rith NSW’s Alfred Dreyfuss Anti-Defamation Unit, said that Brutman had served as the unit’s vice-president.

“She will be missed by many,” Friedlander wrote.

Brutman’s family said in a statement published by Australian national broadcaster ABC that she “met prejudice with principle, and division with service.”

“Our family mourns her deeply, but we ask that her life, not the senseless violence that took it, be what endures,” the statement continues. “We hope her memory calls us as a nation back to decency, courage, and peace.”

Boris Tetleroyd

Boris Tetleroyd was described by his niece as a “beloved husband and father.”

He was attending the Hanukkah event with his son when the gunmen opened fire. Tetleroyd was killed in the attack and his son, who was wounded, is recovering in hospital.

“Our family is grieving the sudden and violent loss of a beloved husband and father in the Bondi attack,” his niece, Leia Roitour, said on a verified crowdfunding page set up to raise money for Tetleroyd’s wife and family.

“Boris was a gentle man, a gifted musician and a valued member of his community. We honor his life and the love he so generously gave to those around him,” the family said in a statement, released by New South Wales police.

“He was profoundly loved and adored by his sons Yaakov and Roman and by his wife Svetlana. He is also deeply loved by his brother, aunt, nieces, nephews, cousins and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Adam Smyth

Adam Smyth, 50, was walking at Bondi Beach with his wife Katrina when they were caught up in the massacre, his family said in a statement.

The father of four – whose wife survived the attack – “was a generous and kind person who will be dearly missed and is forever irreplaceable,” the family said, according to New South Wales police.

“No words can describe the pain of our loss.”

Smyth and his wife’s “shared love of family and friends, travel and sport – if not always the same team – made their time together truly special,” the family said.

Smyth loved the “English Premier League football team Liverpool, his AFL team the Sydney Swans, the NRL’s Manly Sea Eagles and his beloved pets.”

“We will forever cherish the time we have had with him,’ the family said.

Tania Tretiak

Tania Tretiak has been named as the 15th victim of the attack, according to Waverley Council in the east Sydney suburbs.

Tretiak, who was not Jewish, was attending the Bondi Hanukkah event with her husband when the shooting broke out, the council said.

The 68-year-old grandmother is the last victim of the attack to be identified, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

By Helen Regan and Sandi Sidhu