Third Victim Identified
French-Jewish Man Dan Elkayam Named as Latest Victim in Sydney Hanukkah Terror Attack
Dan Elkayam, a young French-Jewish man, has been identified as the third victim murdered in the horrific antisemitic terror attack at the Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebration in Sydney.
A Life Cut Short in Sydney
A wave of grief has swept across the Jewish community in France and Israel following the identification of Dan Elkayam, a French-Jewish man, as one of the victims of the deadly shooting. Elkayam is the third victim to be publicly named following the rampage that shattered a Hanukkah celebration, where hundreds of people had gathered to mark the start of the Jewish Festival of Lights on Sunday evening.
The attack, which authorities have officially declared a terrorist incident, saw gunmen open fire on the "Hanukkah by the Sea" event, a popular community gathering organized by Chabad of Bondi.
May his memory be a blessing.
The Toll of Terror
Elkayam’s death brings the tragedy close to both the French and Israeli communities, as the Israeli Foreign Ministry has confirmed that at least one Israeli citizen was among those killed in the targeted attack on the Jewish community.
The other two victims publicly identified so far are Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman, and an as-yet-unnamed Israeli citizen.
In total, at least 11 innocent people were killed by the terrorists, alongside one of the terrorists who was shot dead by police. Nearly 30 people were wounded, including police officers and several Chabad emissaries, in the massacre which Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned as "an act of evil antisemitism, terrorism." Authorities continue to investigate the possibility of Hezbollah involvement in the attack.
The Bondi Beach attack is the deadliest shooting in Australia since 1996, transforming a sacred moment of light and joy into a scene of profound darkness and tragedy. As the investigation continues, the focus remains on the victims, their families, and the community's resolve to stand against antisemitic hatred.