The Sydney Jewish community, joined by political leaders, gathered on Friday to bid an emotional farewell to Boris and Sofia Gurman, the couple killed while courageously attempting to confront a gunman during the Bondi beach terror attack.
A Final Farewell to 'Kedoshim'
Dozens of mourners filled the Chevra Kadisha funeral home in Woollahra to honour Boris, 69, and Sofia, 61, who died in each other's arms last Sunday. Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, addressing the service, stated that due to their extraordinary bravery, a separate 'place in heaven' was reserved for them, describing the pair as heroes and holy martyrs, or 'Kedoshim'.
'Boris and Sofia were taken from us not just because they were Jewish but fighting for being Jewish,' Rabbi Ulman told the congregation. He added that their status in heaven was above even that of the righteous, or 'Tzadikkim'.
Remembering Lives of Strength and Love
Rabbi Ulman, who has led services for other victims including 10-year-old Matilda, read a tribute from the couple's son, Alex. It began: 'If you were lucky enough to know Sofia and Boris, you didn't just know them, you felt their presence in your life.'
Sofia was remembered as a woman with a 'natural authority' and quiet, decisive leadership, who showed love in tangible ways, especially through food. Boris, a retired mechanic, was recalled as open, warm, and deeply devoted to his garden, home, and family. The rabbi highlighted their resilience in emigrating from the Soviet-era Ukraine to build a new life in Sydney, where they cherished their Bondi home and the beach.
A Community and Nation in Mourning
The funeral was attended by a cross-section of society, including NSW Premier Chris Minns, federal MP Matt Thistlethwaite, and Israel's Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon. Sofia's colleagues from the Bondi post office attended in their Australia Post uniforms. The service was so full that many mourners stood at the back and by the doors.
The Gurmans were the first of 15 people killed when father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram opened fire on Hanukah celebrations. Dashcam footage showed Boris bravely tackling shooter Sajid Akram on Campbell Parade early in the attack. Rabbi Ulman drew a solemn parallel, stating the shooting was 'comparable to the 7th of October in Israel, relatively speaking'.
As the service concluded, two hearses stood side-by-side on a closed section of Oxford Street, ready to carry Boris and Sofia Gurman to their final resting place, their courage forever etched into the memory of a grieving city.
