Chilling footage released on Wednesday captured the final moments in the lives of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, and 10-year-old Matilda, who were murdered in the shooting attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney. The video showed Rabbi Schlanger placing tefillin on a passerby, with Matilda standing nearby, just minutes before terrorists opened fire on those celebrating the first Hanukkah candle.
Matilda, the youngest victim murdered in the attack, was the daughter of a family that had emigrated from Ukraine. Her aunt described her as "a brilliant and joyful child," noting that her younger sister had witnessed her murder at the beach. Rabbi Schlanger, a Britain native who had lived in Sydney for the past 18 years, left behind five children, including a recently born infant. His father-in-law, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, eulogized him in tears, saying, "Your devotion to me knew no bounds. You were my son and my confidant, it seems impossible to get through a day without you."
The Bondi attack occurred two days ago and has been considered the deadliest shooting incident in Australia in nearly three decades. A father and son opened fire on crowds during Hanukkah celebrations, murdering 15 people and wounding dozens more. Since the incident, the victims' names have been gradually revealed.
