A profound silence, heavy with collective grief, descended upon the forecourt of Bondi Pavilion as thousands gathered to mourn the 15 innocent lives taken in Sunday's terrorist attack. The heart of the community's anguish focused on the youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda, whose devastated parents addressed the crowd in an emotionally charged vigil.
A Father's Plea: 'Remember Her Name'
Matilda's father, Michael, and mother, Valentyna, immigrants from Ukraine, stood before the swelling crowd of more than 2,000 people. Fighting back tears, Michael explained the poignant choice behind his daughter's name. "We came here from the Ukraine … and I named her Matilda because she was our firstborn in Australia," he said. "And I thought that Matilda was the most Australian name that could ever exist. So just remember – remember her name."
Valentyna then described the unimaginable horror, her voice breaking as she recalled the gunman's actions. "I can’t imagine what is a monster that stands on that bridge, and seeing a little girl running for her father to hide with him, and… and he just pulled the trigger on her," she said, pressing her hand to her heart. "It stays here."
The Growing List of Victims
Rabbi Yossi Friedman led the memorial, reading the names of the nine victims initially identified from the attack, which targeted a Hanukkah celebration. The list, a sombre roll call of a shattered community, included:
- Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi.
- Peter Meagher, a retired detective sergeant and photographer.
- Tibor Weitzen and Alex Kleytman, both reportedly killed while shielding their wives. Kleytman was a Holocaust survivor.
- Dan Elkayam, a French national.
- Marika Pogany, a longtime community volunteer.
- Reuven Morrison, a local businessman.
- Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, secretary of the Sydney Beth Din.
- Matilda, the 10-year-old girl.
As the evening progressed, more names were added, including Edith Brutman, vice-president of an anti-prejudice committee, and later, the popular local couple Boris and Sofia Gurman, who reportedly died after trying to tackle one of the gunmen.
Community Defiance and a Call to Action
The grief was punctuated by powerful messages of resilience and a stark condemnation of antisemitism. Sydney Anglican minister Mark Leach, of Jewish heritage, delivered a passionate address, apologising to the Jewish community on behalf of Australia. "I want to say to all the Jewish people here, as a Christian Australian, we are so sorry that we allowed this country to become a place where you would be slaughtered," he stated, urging for a nationwide citizen movement to combat hatred.
Throughout the day, acts of kindness underscored the community's response. Rivky Shuchat, a friend of two slain rabbis, campaigned tirelessly, raising nearly $600,000 in total for the victims' young families. "All we can do now is kindness. That’s the only thing we can do," she said.
As darkness fell, the sea of flowers grew. The community sang traditional Hebrew songs, Advance Australia Fair, and the Israeli national anthem. Preparing to light the menorah, Rabbi Motti Feldman issued a message of spiritual defiance: "We grieve, we mourn, we cry. But we will not be silenced… We will increase in light." The vigil stood as a raw testament to a community united in sorrow and a determined resolve to stand against hate.
