Holocaust Survivor Killed in Bondi Beach Shooting

The oldest victim of the Dec. 14 mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, was a Holocaust survivor.

The attack, now described as Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in more than 30 years, left 15 people dead and several others wounded. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, according to local officials cited by NBC News. The shooting took place during a Hanukkah gathering, transforming what should have been a moment of community and celebration into one of horror and grief.

The oldest among the victims was identified as 87-year-old Alex Kleytman. His family confirmed that he survived the Holocaust before later immigrating to Australia in search of safety and stability. After enduring unimaginable persecution and displacement in Europe, Kleytman rebuilt his life thousands of miles from where it began.

Kleytman’s wife, Larisa, told The Australian that her husband died while trying to protect her as the gunfire erupted.

“We were standing and suddenly came the ‘boom boom,’ and everybody fell down,” she said. “At that moment he was behind me, and then he decided to move closer to me. He pushed his body up because he wanted to stay near me.”

“His body is still there, and I am sitting there and don’t know what I have to do,” she added.

Both Alex and Larisa endured what JewishCare later described as “the unspeakable terror of the Holocaust” before eventually relocating from Ukraine to Australia. Their experiences were documented in JewishCare’s 2023 annual report, which emphasized the couple’s resilience and determination to survive against extraordinary odds.

“Their strength, adaptability, and perseverance stand as a testament to the enduring human spirit,” the report stated.

It also detailed Alex’s particularly traumatic memories of Siberia, where he, his mother, and younger brother faced extreme cold, hunger, and constant fear while struggling to survive. These early experiences shaped his life and made his death in an act of targeted violence especially devastating to those who knew his history.

In the days following the attack, mourners gathered at the Bondi Pavilion to leave flowers, candles, and handwritten notes honoring the victims. Vigils were held across Sydney and other major cities as communities came together to grieve, reflect, and demand accountability.

Authorities allege that the shooting was carried out by 24-year-old Naveed Akram and his father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram. Australian officials described the attack as “an act of pure evil,” characterizing it as terrorism motivated by antisemitism, according to CNN.

Sajid Akram died at the scene, while Naveed Akram was hospitalized in critical condition.

Among the victims was also the youngest, 10-year-old Matilda Poltavchenko. Her teacher remembered her as a “bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her.” A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help her family with funeral costs and long-term support.

The shooting has left Australia’s Jewish community shaken and grieving, reigniting fears about rising antisemitic violence worldwide.

“It’s not random,” Jillian Segal, Australia’s special envoy on antisemitism, said in remarks reported by The New York Times. “It is an attack on the Jews of Australia. It’s an attack on Australia as well.”

Community leaders and elected officials have since called for renewed efforts to confront antisemitism and protect vulnerable communities across Australia. Security has been increased at Jewish schools, synagogues, and cultural centers nationwide, while lawmakers debate stronger measures to prevent ideologically motivated violence. Mental health professionals have also emphasized the long-term trauma such attacks inflict, not only on survivors and families, but on entire communities forced to relive historic fears.

For many, the loss of Alex Kleytman has become a painful symbol of history repeating itself—of a man who escaped genocide, only to be killed decades later by hatred he once survived.