Devastating Terror Attack On Jewish Community In Australia
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We are writing with heavy hearts in the wake of the devastating attack at a Chanukah gathering at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia where 15 people were murdered and 38 people more were injured. Among those murdered was Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, 87, who was originally from Ukraine. Alex was accompanied by his wife, Larisa. The two were attending the “Chanukah by the Sea” event organized by Chabad of Bondi when gunmen opened fire.
Larisa told the news outlet, The Australian, that they “came on Bondi Beach to celebrate Hanukkah, for us it was always a very, very good celebration, for many, many years.” Larisa also told the outlet, “We were standing and suddenly came the ‘boom, boom,’ and everybody fell down. At this moment, he was behind me, and at one moment, he decided to go close to me. He pushed his body up because he wanted to stay near me.”
The couple has two children and 11 grandchildren, according to another news outlet, The Daily Mail.
Having endured the worst of humanity to become a victim of a callous act of antisemitism is unthinkable. It is difficult for any of us to fathom that this couple, who rebuilt their lives after the horrors of the Shoah, once again became the target of the unchecked hatred we are seeing at an alarming rate globally.
Chanukah has always reminded us that light can surpass the darkness, but, sadly, we are witnessing that the darkness of antisemitism continues. The targeting of a Jewish celebration symbolizing light overcoming darkness has shaken our community to its core. Jews must be able to gather and celebrate without fear and a Holocaust survivor should have been protected by the lessons of the past.
Educating about the Shoah and how easily words of hate turn to actions and violence cannot be a hollow promise. We must learn from our past and, sadly, from our present. We must be resolute in our commitment to teaching the lessons of the past to safeguard Jewish life and to understand the urgency of what happens when antisemitism and hate continue to flourish. When hatred of the past starts to echo again, we must redouble our efforts to fulfill our mission. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the victims and injured during this unthinkable time.
May the memories of those murdered be a blessing.
Gideon Taylor and Greg Schneider
