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On 14 December 2025, Bondi and the Jewish community were hit by a horrendous assault. As the Jewish community gathered to celebrate the beginning of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, families and friends also gathered on the beach and promenade to enjoy the stunning weather on a warm summer’s day.
Then lives changed in an instant.
Two men opened fire on the people in Bondi Beach. 15 people were killed. A further 42 people were injured.
We saw the incredible acts of bravery from first responders, lifeguards, and community members who put their own lives in jeopardy to help their fellow humans.
The crime scene has lifted, roads reopened, and the gunman formally charged. But life doesn’t just move on. The community has continuously shown up to pay respects to those who have passed and to support one another in the wake of this terrible tragedy.
This vicious event has deeply shaken The Weekly. We mourn every life lost, and those who were injured remain in our thoughts.
Our deepest condolences go out to the Australian Jewish community and the victims impacted by the violent attack at Bondi Beach.
A week after the terrible incident, Waverley Council hosted a memorial for the 15 victims of the attack.
Hundreds attended to commemorate those who had lost their lives on what Prime Minister Albanese dubbed the National Day of Reflection.
Below are the statements from the families of those who were killed on Sunday, 14 December, shared by NSW Police.
The remaining families have requested privacy, and we have not provided any images or statements at this time.
Peter Meagher
Our family is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Peter. He was a cherished brother, husband and uncle whose kindness, generosity and love touched everyone who knew him. Our lives have been changed forever.
We are grateful for the outpouring of support from friends and the community. As we begin to come to terms with what has happened, we ask for privacy and the space to mourn together as a family. We also ask that the media respect our wishes and remember Peter for the life he lived, not for the way it ended.
Peter was a member of the NSW Police Force for 35 years, rising to the position of Detective Sergeant, until he retired in 2020. In retirement, he became a freelance photographer and was on assignment in Bondi on Sunday to photograph the Chanukah celebration. Peter also spent countless hours doing volunteer work in retirement, including in various roles for his beloved Randwick Rugby Union Football Club.
The tragic irony that Peter spent so long in the dangerous front line as a police officer and was struck down in retirement while pursuing his passion for taking photos is hard for us to comprehend.
Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this tragedy.
Marika Pogany
Statement from the Pogany family:
Marika, known lovingly to all as Omi, was a beautiful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and steadfast friend, whose warmth and energy touched countless lives. Vibrant and full of life, she brought joy and energy into every room and found her greatest happiness surrounded by her adoring family. Her darling son Romy was her greatest achievement and her world.
Marika was fortunate to have the opportunity to come to Australia in 1968 from Czechoslovakia, with Romy lovingly accompanied by her protector, her brother Ivan. She became an Australian citizen in 1972, where she embraced her life as an Aussie from that point on. She was very proud of her country.
She had an extraordinary gift for connecting with people. Her kindness, laughter, and generosity left a lasting mark on everyone she met, and her incredible network of friends was a true reflection of the love and loyalty she inspired.
Deeply devoted to her community, she gave her time and heart in service to others, delivering meals and helping people in need, embodying love in action.
Though she is gone, her light will continue to shine brightly through the family and friends who were so blessed to have her in their lives. Forever our gorgeous Darlink.
Adam Smyth
Statement from the Smyth family:
We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Adam Smyth (50), father of four children and husband to Katrina.
Adam and Katrina were walking at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening when they found themselves in the middle of the horrific and devastating attack.
We are all trying to come to terms with the senseless shooting, of which Adam was a victim.
No words can describe the pain of our loss.
Adam and Katrina were living their best lives together. Their shared love of family and friends, travel and sport – if not always the same team – made their time together truly special.
Adam’s loves in life were his English Premier League football team Liverpool, his AFL team the Sydney Swans, the NRL’s Manly Sea Eagles and his beloved pets.
We will forever cherish the time we have had with him. Adam was a generous and kind person who will be dearly missed and is forever irreplaceable.
You’ll never walk alone (YNWA).
Boris and Sofia Gurman
Statement from the Gurman family:
We are heartbroken by the sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Boris (69) and Sofia Gurman (61).
They had been married for 34 years, with their 35th wedding anniversary approaching in January. In just two days’ time, we were meant to celebrate Sofia’s birthday – a moment that now feels incredibly hard to comprehend.
Boris and Sofia were deeply devoted to their family and were well known in their community for their kindness, warmth and willingness to help others. Boris was a retired mechanic, and Sofia was working at Australia Post for the past five years. They lived honest, hardworking lives and treated everyone with care and respect.
We are devastated by this loss and ask for privacy as we grieve. We are deeply grateful for the love and support shown to our family during this unimaginable time.
[Editor’s note: Boris and Sofia died while heroically trying to disarm one of the shooters. Their incredibly selfless actions were captured on a dashcam of a passing car. A GoFundMe has been set up to raise funds to support their family.]
Dan Elkayam
Statement from the Elkayam family:
On the 14th of December 2025, the first night of Hanukkah, Dan was at the beach with his friends for the lighting of the Hannukah Candles. He was playing football, celebrating the holiday, and enjoying a sunny summer day at Bondi Beach.
During a mass shooting, Dan was shot in the back while trying to run away.
He was murdered because he was Jewish.
He leaves behind his partner in Australia, as well as his parents, brothers, nieces, and nephews in Paris, France, where he was born and raised. He was deeply proud of his community back home in Le Bourget.
Dan was a 27-year-old IT engineer who was working and being sponsored by NBCUniversal. He was beginning to build his future in Australia, a country he loved.
Football was one of Dan’s greatest passions. He played at the 2022 Maccabiah Games and for several teams in both France and Australia, including Waverley and Rockdale, and was in the process of signing with Dolls Point.
Dan loved life – fully and intensely. He travelled the world and was known for his gentle, kind, fun and loving nature, making friends wherever he went. Alongside football, he had a deep connection with nature. He was a certified scuba diver and an explorer at heart, always eager to discover new places, cultures, and experiences.
Dan brought light wherever he went and inspired countless people through the way he lived. His smile could light up any room. He was pure joy – a beautiful and humble soul.
To say that Dan will be missed is not enough. He was a person who truly wanted to do good in the world, to share his love of life and his sense of adventure with everyone around him.
It is now our responsibility to carry forward the light that Dan spread. He was surrounded by loved ones from all walks of life and all communities, and in times as dark as these, we all have a duty to continue spreading kindness, compassion, and joy – in his name.
Boris Tetleroyd
Statement from the Tetleroyd family:
Boris was loved by everyone he met. He was well known to his neighbours, deeply connected to our wider community, and cherished by his family.
He was profoundly loved and adored by his sons Yaakov and Roman and by his wife Svetlana. He is also deeply loved by his brother, aunt, nieces, nephews, cousins and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Boris was a gentle man, a gifted musician and a valued member of his community. We honour his life and the love he so generously gave to those around him.
Alex Kleytman
Statement from the Kleytman family:
Alex Kleytman was murdered on Sunday, 14.12.2025. He was a fascinating person of many talents and an unwavering spirit. He was also very stubborn!! Born in 1938, he survived the hardships of World War II in frozen Siberia, carrying with him a lifetime of extraordinary stories of resilience, survival, and unexpected luck. He worked as a civil engineer and estimator his entire life, first in the former Soviet Union and then in Australia. He retired in Australia at 76 and worked on many essential projects at Transfield and John Holland, including the Desalination plant, the Olympic stadium, and various highways. He was very valued at his work, and we received many emails and photographs from his colleagues during these dark times.
A former colleague described Alex as “a talented engineer by training, Alex became one of the founding members of what became John Holland Water and was an instrumental part of this business, which developed into the most successful water infrastructure delivering company in Australia.”
After he retired, he first became a lobbyist, passionately advocating against some aspects of the Sydney Light Rail. Then he found his real passion: writing books about the lives of Jewish people in the Soviet Union. He published two books: Relay of Memory: Known and Unknown Jews, and Stalin’s Bloody Five-Year Plan 1948-1953 (the latter was co-authored with my mum, Larisa). These books, grounded in thorough research, were embraced by the community and presented at many public events.
He played table tennis and chess with passion and enthusiasm throughout his life, and was a school champion. He loved his wife, Larisa, with unparalleled passion, the kind you only see in the movies. He and Mum loved to dance and were quite good, winning a dancing competition at work. Alex discovered Judaism in his 50s and became observant after immigrating to Australia, where he married Larisa AGAIN on the 25th anniversary of their civil wedding, but this time according to Jewish law. Equally, he cherished Australia, the Australian way of life, the freedom, democracy, people, all of it. In his presence, no one could ever criticise anything about his beloved new home.
Alex tragically died on 14 December 2025, doing what he loved most: protecting Larisa, standing proudly as a Jew, and celebrating the Festival of Lights. The two gunmen killed him, but his memories, his legacy, and his books will bring light for generations to come. He’s survived by his wife, two children and 11 grandchildren. Loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and a passionate professional across many fields, you touched so many lives. You will be deeply missed and never forgotten.
If this story has raised issues for you, help is available.
The NSW Health Mental Health Line is available 24/7 on 1800 011 511
For crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14
Children and young people can call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or chat online at kidshelpline.com.au.
