Tributes are pouring in for the fifteen people killed in a horrific terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, which targeted a Hanukkah celebration. Among the victims were several individuals who showed extraordinary bravery in trying to stop the gunmen.
Heroic Couple Confronts Attacker
The attack unfolded on Sunday evening, 14 December 2025, the first night of Hanukkah, at Archer Park next to the famous beach. Two gunmen, identified as father and son Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire on the crowd.
Among the first to be named were Boris and Sofia Gurman, aged 69 and 61. Dashcam footage revealed the couple's final, courageous act. Boris, wearing a lavender shirt, was seen wrestling with one of the assailants for a long-barrelled weapon before both fell to the ground. Sofia was by his side.
"An elderly man by the roadside did not run away - instead, he charged straight toward the danger," said Jenny, the owner of the dashcam. The couple, married for 34 years, were described by their family as people of "deep kindness, quiet strength, and unwavering care for others."
Victims Remembered for Courage and Light
The attack claimed lives across generations, from a 10-year-old girl to an 87-year-old man.
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, a British-born assistant rabbi at Chabad Bondi which organised the event, was killed. The father-of-five, who grew up in Temple Fortune, north London, had recently celebrated the birth of his youngest son. His cousin, Rabbi Dovid Lewis, said he had "dedicated his life to adding light" and vowed to continue his work.
Reuven Morrison, 62, a businessman, also died while trying to stop an attacker. His daughter said he was "shot dead for being Jewish... while protecting lives." Footage showed him throwing bricks and chasing a gunman.
The youngest victim, a 10-year-old girl named Matilda, died in hospital. She was remembered as a "bright, joyful, and spirited child."
Other Victims Identified
The list of those who lost their lives continued to grow:
- Alexander Kleytman, 87, a Holocaust survivor from Ukraine.
- Peter Meagher, a retired NSW police officer working as a freelance photographer at the event.
- Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, secretary of the Sydney Beth Din.
- Tibor Weitzen, 78, who was fatally wounded while shielding his wife.
- Marika Pogany, 82, a Slovak national.
- Dan Elkayam, a French citizen in his late 20s.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
Police shot dead Sajid Akram at the scene. His son, Naveed, was also shot and has now woken up in hospital after briefly falling into a coma. The site of the celebration has been transformed into a sea of flowers as the community mourns.
The attack has sent shockwaves through Sydney and the international Jewish community, raising urgent questions about security and extremism. As families grieve, the enduring message from victims like Rabbi Schlanger resonates: "We will respond with light."
