Baruch Dayan HaEmet
10-Year-Old Matilda Named as Youngest Victim of Bondi Beach Massacre
Ten-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach Hanukkah terror attack, died after gunmen opened fire at a “Chanukah by the Sea” event hosted by Chabad; Australian authorities have declared the shooting an antisemitic terrorist act.
Matilda, a 10-year-old girl (full name reported in some sources as Matilda Poltavchenko), was tragically the youngest victim of the terrorist mass shooting at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, during a "Chanukah by the Sea" event hosted by Chabad of Bondi.She was attending the Hanukkah celebration with her family, including her parents and younger sister, when two gunmen opened fire on the crowd. Matilda was critically injured and rushed to Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick, where she succumbed to her injuries overnight despite medical efforts—she had lost a significant amount of blood.
Her aunt, Lina, described her to media as a "happy kid" who "always gives cuddles," and noted the profound impact on her younger sister, who witnessed the events, escaped physical injury, but is in shock, having been inseparable from Matilda (described as being "like twins").Matilda's language teacher, Irina Goodhew, remembered her as a "bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her" and set up a GoFundMe to support her mother (named in some reports as Valentina Poltavchenko).
The family has requested privacy, with permission granted for limited use of her first name and approved photos in reporting.
This heartbreaking loss is part of a larger attack that killed at least 15 people (plus one gunman) and injured dozens more, declared an antisemitic terrorist act by Australian authorities. My deepest condolences to Matilda's family and all affected.