December 19, 2025
A Prayer By Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC Director of Interreligious Affairs
Earlier today, the last of the fifteen Bondi Beach victims was identified. Let us begin our prayer by naming them. As our tradition teaches, each of their murders represents the destruction of an olam malei, an entire world. As we name them, we, in our small way, keep the worlds they represent, alive:
A ten year old girl (name private)
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an organizer of the Hanukkah event
Boris Tetleroyd, whose son, also shot, is recovering in the hospital
Boris and Sofia Gurman, who died as heroes, trying to stop one of the perpetrators before the massacre
Reuven Morrison, seen on video, hurling an object at one of the terrorists
Edith Brutman, a Jewish organizational leader
Marika Pogany, previously recognized for having delivered 12,000 kosher Meals on Wheels to seniors
Dan Elkayam, a French national and star soccer player
Rabbi Yaakov Levitan of the Sydney Beit Din, a rabbinic court
Peter Meagher, a retired police detective sergeant, at the event as a freelance photographer
Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor
Tibor Weitzen, known as the candy man for children at his shul
Adam Smyth, just out for a walk on the beach with his wife
Tania Tretiak, identified today as the 15th victim
Yehi zikhram barukh. May our memory of them be for a blessing.
We pray for those who are battling their wounds. May they have a refuah sheleimah, a full and speedy recovery.
We thank the heroic Ahmed al-Ahmed, seen on video – unarmed - disarming one of the terrorists, he himself later shot and wounded, now recovering.
Today is the fifth day of Hanukkah. Tonight, in addition to Shabbat, we will celebrate Rosh Hodesh, the beginning of a new Jewish month, Tevet, as we see the new moon in the sky.
Hanukkah and Rosh Hodesh have something in common. They both confront darkness and celebrate light. We increase our candles throughout Hanukkah. We watch as the moon appears to grow in the sky, first a sliver, then a quarter, then a half, then a whole.
This is the moment we find ourselves in once again, confronting the darkness with our light. We are a strong people. We have not abandoned our hope, our tikvah, lehiyot am chofshi, to be a free people, unafraid, unbowed, standing up for who we are, demanding and expecting leadership from those who are charged with the responsibility of keeping us all safe, as we confront an unimaginable resurgence of antisemitism in our lifetimes.
We stand with the resilience of the 23rd Psalm – in which we are undeterred as we walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
May we find strength in one another and our shared work on behalf of AJC and the Jewish people. Shabbat shalom. Hanukkah sameach. Hodesh tov.
