The BareStory
Two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Sunday, killing 15 people and wounding dozens. On Thursday, hundreds of people in Sydney gathered to mourn the victims, four days after the attack.
Funerals for those killed reportedly began on Wednesday. The youngest victim was identified as a 10-year-old girl named Matilda. One of the victims was Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Arsen Ostrovsky, a survivor who was with his family during the shooting, called his survival "a miracle," according to one report.
Among the dozens injured was Rabbi Leibel Lazaroff, a 20-year-old American from Texas who was volunteering at the event and interning with Rabbi Schlanger. According to his father, Lazaroff was shot in the stomach and thighs after he tried to assist a wounded police officer and asked for the officer's weapon to confront the attackers. His father also said that his son witnessed Rabbi Schlanger being shot.
Lazaroff’s mother, Manya Lazaroff, stated on Thursday that her son had undergone two surgeries, was fighting an infection, and remained in critical condition. She called the attack a "wakeup call" for leaders and said that hate speech can lead to violent actions.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• An American citizen was critically injured, highlighting potential safety risks for U.S. travelers and volunteers serving abroad.
• The attack on a Hanukkah celebration could lead to increased security concerns or measures at similar religious gatherings within the United States.
• A victim’s American mother called on leaders to address hate speech, which may influence related policy discussions and public discourse in the U.S.
