A Child Remembered With Love: The funeral of ten-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach shooting, became a deeply emotional moment not only for her grieving family but also for an entire nation struggling to process a shocking act of violence. As loved ones gathered to say their final goodbye, the message that echoed through the service was not one of anger or hatred, but of love, remembrance, and humanity.
Matilda’s family, devastated by an unimaginable loss, urged the wider community to resist letting her death become a source of rage. Speaking during the funeral, her aunt, Lina Chernykh, expressed that while calls for stronger action against antisemitism are valid and necessary, Matilda herself represented joy, kindness, and warmth. According to her aunt, honoring Matilda’s life meant spreading the same happiness she shared so freely during her short time in the world.
She described her niece as a child who naturally radiated positivity and hoped that her memory could inspire compassion rather than division. In an emotional reflection, she shared the belief that Matilda might now be an angel, sending gentle hope and goodwill to a wounded world.
The tragic incident occurred during an event marking the beginning of Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, where two gunmen opened fire on the crowd. Fifteen people lost their lives, making it one of the deadliest attacks in Australia in decades. Authorities later classified the incident as a terrorist act, intensifying national conversations around public safety, extremism, and social cohesion.
Community leaders, particularly within the Jewish community, have highlighted the attack as part of a broader struggle with rising antisemitism. While these concerns remain central to ongoing discussions, the funerals held this week became spaces of collective mourning rather than political debate.
The funeral service for Matilda was attended by hundreds of mourners, including senior public figures such as the Governor General and the Premier of New South Wales. Many attendees wore bee-themed brooches and stickers, a touching tribute to Matilda’s fondness for bees and nature.
Matilda’s parents, Michael and Valentyna, had named her after the famous Australian song Waltzing Matilda, symbolizing gratitude toward the country that offered safety to their Ukrainian family. During the service, a poem was read in her honor, describing her as “waltzing with the angels,” a phrase that resonated deeply with those present.
The service was led by Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, who struggled to maintain composure as he spoke about the cruelty and senselessness of Matilda’s death. He described her loss as one that felt deeply personal to the entire community, as if every family had lost a daughter.
Drawing on Jewish beliefs, he spoke about death not being the end, but a separation that is not eternal. While acknowledging that words often fall short in moments of such profound grief, he offered his conviction that the bond with Matilda would endure beyond this life.
His words carried additional weight, as he himself had suffered a personal loss in the same attack. Just a day earlier, he had spoken at the funeral of his own son-in-law, also killed in the shooting, underscoring the widespread and deeply personal impact of the tragedy.
On the same day as Matilda’s funeral, services were also held for other victims, highlighting the broad human toll of the attack. Among them was Alexander Kleytman, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who was remembered for his courage and devotion to his family. His family shared that he died while protecting his wife, a final act reflecting a lifetime of resilience and love.
Another service honored Tibor Weitzen, a 78-year-old man described as a devoted family figure. His daughter spoke of his unwavering affection and expressed deep sorrow over being unable to save him, a sentiment that mirrored the pain felt by many families affected by the tragedy.
As investigations continue and legal proceedings move forward, Australia remains in mourning. Several victims remain hospitalized, with some still in critical condition. Beyond the statistics and headlines, the funerals served as a reminder that each life lost represented a story, a family, and a future forever altered.
Matilda’s family, through their unimaginable pain, offered a message that stood out amid the sorrow: that love should not be overshadowed by hatred. Their call for empathy and unity has become a powerful symbol of resilience, urging society to respond to violence not only with justice, but also with humanity.
