On a warm summer evening that was meant to sparkle with joy and light, tragedy descended upon Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach like a shadow eclipsing the sun. December 14, 2025—the first night of Hanukkah—saw hundreds gathering for the annual “Chanukah by the Sea” celebration in Archer Park. Families, children, rabbis, and community members came together to light the giant menorah, share donuts, enjoy a petting zoo, and revel in the festival of lights. Laughter echoed against the waves, dreidels spun, and the air hummed with songs of miracles and resilience.

Then, at around 6:40 p.m., gunfire shattered the serenity. Two gunmen—father Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed Akram, 24—emerged from a silver car, heavily armed, and unleashed a barrage of bullets on the crowd. What unfolded was Australia’s deadliest terrorist attack in decades: 15 innocent lives lost, dozens wounded, and a nation plunged into grief. Authorities quickly classified it as an antisemitic act of terror, inspired by extremist ideology.

Amid this unimaginable chaos—screams piercing the night, people fleeing in panic, bodies falling—one 14-year-old girl rose as a beacon of pure, instinctive heroism. Chaya Mushka Dadon, a bright-eyed teenager from Sydney’s Chabad community, didn’t run for cover alone. Hearing a mother’s desperate pleas for someone to save her young children, Chaya acted without hesitation. She rushed from the bench where she and a friend had sought shelter, threw herself over the two terrified little ones, and used her own body as a human shield.

Bullets rained down. Chaya was struck in the leg, the pain searing through her young frame. Yet she refused to move. She stayed pinned over the children, whispering prayers—leading them in the Shema, Judaism’s ancient declaration of faith—even as the attackers reloaded and fired again. Emergency responders eventually reached them, and the children survived. Tragically, their mother did not. She was among the 15 killed, her final act a heartbreaking entrustment of her babies to a stranger’s courage.

Chaya’s selfless sacrifice saved two lives that night, embodying the very essence of Hanukkah’s message: light triumphing over darkness, good over evil. As the world mourns the victims and grapples with rising antisemitism, her story has ignited global admiration, reminding us that true heroism often comes in the smallest, bravest packages.

A Joyous Celebration Turned Nightmare: The Events of December 14

The “Chanukah by the Sea” event, organized by Chabad of Bondi for over 25 years, was a beloved tradition. Co-run by Rabbi Eli Schlanger—a beloved figure who would tragically lose his life that night shielding his own family—it drew around 1,000 people. The park buzzed with excitement: children petting animals, families posing for photos by the menorah, rabbis like Schlanger laying tefillin on passersby just moments before the horror began.

Witnesses described an idyllic scene turning apocalyptic in seconds. The Akrams, who had traveled to the Philippines weeks earlier and stayed in an Airbnb beforehand, arrived prepared. Sajid was killed by police at the scene; Naveed, critically wounded, later faced 59 charges, including murder and terrorism.

Fifteen lives were stolen: among them, 10-year-old Matilda, a spirited girl remembered for her love of soccer; Holocaust survivor Alexander Kleytman; great-grandfather Tibor Weitzen, who died protecting others; Rabbi Eli Schlanger, father of five including a two-month-old; and devoted couple Boris and Sofia Gurman, who tried to disarm a gunman.

Dozens more were injured, including Schlanger’s wife Chaya (grazed by a bullet) and their infant (shrapnel wounds). A pregnant woman, Jessica Rozen, shielded a stranger’s child. A bystander tackled one gunman. But no act captured hearts quite like young Chaya Dadon’s.

Chaya, daughter of Chabad emissaries Rabbi Menachem and Shterny Dadon, had attended these events her whole life. Hiding under a bench as shots rang out—”Get down, save yourself!” people screamed—she heard a mother’s frantic cries: “Please save my kids!” No one else moved. Chaya did.

“I could not watch those little kids die,” she later recounted calmly to visitors. She grabbed the children, covered them completely, and held firm even after the bullet tore into her leg. A surf lifesaver later placed her on a board to transport her to safety amid depleted ambulances.

From Hospital Bed to Global Inspiration: Chaya’s Quiet Strength

In the days following, as Sydney’s Jewish community began funerals and vigils—thousands laying flowers at Bondi, candles flickering in remembrance—Chaya recovered in hospital. She underwent surgery to remove the bullet and began rehabilitation.

Volunteers from United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit—deployed from Israel to support the traumatized community—visited her bedside. Photos show Chaya, hugging a teddy bear, surrounded by caring faces. She spoke softly, without drama, recounting her actions as instinctive: “Her name means ‘life,’ and her instinct is to save lives,” her grandfather, Rabbi Yaakov Lieder, told reporters. He wasn’t surprised; footage he saw online confirmed her bravery.

Chaya led the children in prayer during the ordeal, helping them recite the Shema despite their young age. From her bed, she displayed the same serene strength. “She personifies resilience,” community leaders said. Her story spread virally: “A true heroine,” posts declared. “A young Jewish heroine.” Schools worldwide were urged to teach it as an example of selflessness.

Tragically, the mother Chaya heard pleading remains unidentified in some reports, though her sacrifice ensured her children’s survival. The orphans’ fate adds layers of heartbreak, underscoring the attack’s cruelty.

Waves of Grief and Unity: Australia’s Response to Unspeakable Loss

The attack reverberated globally. World leaders condemned it: King Charles III called it “appalling antisemitism.” U.S. President Trump mourned the “purely antisemitic” violence. Israel’s government linked rising threats to global tensions, though Australia rejected direct blame on its policies.

In Sydney, memorials grew: flowers piled high, candles lit against the ocean backdrop. Funerals drew thousands—Rabbi Schlanger’s praised his “endless self-sacrifice.” Young Matilda’s service honored her vibrant spirit.

Broader conversations erupted: Australia’s strict gun laws questioned after the Akrams legally obtained weapons. Antisemitic incidents had spiked post-October 2023; this was the deadliest manifestation. Community leaders demanded action—stronger laws, education, unity.

Yet amid sorrow, stories of heroism shone. A fruit shop owner disarmed a gunman. Pregnant mothers protected strangers’ children. And Chaya—a teenager facing her own pain—saved two innocents.

The Enduring Light: Why Chaya’s Act Resonates So Deeply

In Jewish tradition, Hanukkah commemorates a miracle: one day’s oil lasting eight, symbolizing hope’s defiance against oppression. The attackers sought to extinguish light at a festival celebrating it. Instead, acts like Chaya’s amplified it.

At 14, Chaya embodies instinctive compassion—the kind that transcends age, fear, ideology. “Everyone was screaming ‘save yourself,'” she said. She chose otherwise. Her grandfather saw divine purpose: “Terrorists kill; she saves.”

As 2025’s Hanukkah continues shadowed by grief, Chaya’s recovery progresses. Expected to heal fully, she returns to a community forever changed yet fortified by her example.

We mourn the 15 lost: their names etched in memory, their lights undimmed. We hold grieving families—orphans, widows, parents burying children. And we honor Chaya Mushka Dadon, whose courage reminds us: In humanity’s darkest moments, a single act of love can illuminate the world.

Her story isn’t just survival—it’s triumph. A 14-year-old girl, wounded yet unbowed, teaching us all what true strength looks like. May her light, and the light of Hanukkah, guide us through the darkness.