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Holocaust Survivor From Ukraine Killed in Terror Attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach
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A Ukrainian-born Holocaust survivor was among those killed in a deadly antisemitic attack during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Australian authorities and media confirmed.
An Australian man originally from Ukraine who survived the Holocaust was among those killed in a deadly antisemitic attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, NBC News reported on December 15.
Alex Kleitman, a Ukrainian-born Holocaust survivor who had lived in Australia for nearly 60 years, was identified as one of the victims of the December 14 attack during a Hanukkah event at the popular beachfront.
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His death was confirmed by his wife, Larisa Kleitman, who is also a Holocaust survivor. Speaking to reporters, she said she heard several loud noises that sounded like “booms” moments before seeing her husband collapse.
According to Larisa Kleitman, her husband had gone to Bondi Beach specifically to celebrate Hanukkah , a holiday that held deep meaning for their family.
“He came to Bondi Beach to celebrate Hanukkah. For us, it was always a very, very beautiful holiday for many, many years,” she said.
Alex Kleitman survived the Holocaust alongside his mother and younger brother in Siberia. After the war, he and his wife emigrated from Ukraine to Australia, where they built a life together and were married for nearly six decades.
In the aftermath of the attack, Larisa Kleitman said she was still struggling to process what had happened.
“His body is still there, and I’m sitting here, and I don’t know what to do,” she said, adding that she remained in shock.
Kleitman’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and condemnation across Australia’s Jewish community as well as among members of the Ukrainian diaspora.
The attack took place on Sunday, December 14, 2025, during a public Hanukkah celebration known as “Chanukah by the Sea” at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Australian authorities have classified the incident as a terrorist attack motivated by antisemitism.
Police said two armed attackers opened fire on the crowd gathered for the holiday event. One suspect was shot dead at the scene by police, while the second was wounded and taken into custody. Explosive devices discovered in the attackers’ vehicle were later safely neutralized.
As of the latest official count, at least 16 people were killed, including children and elderly individuals, and more than 40 others were wounded and hospitalized. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87.
Witnesses reported hearing between 20 and 50 gunshots before panic swept through the area, sending people fleeing into nearby restaurants and shops in search of shelter.
Earlier, 88-year-old Ukrainian Holocaust survivor and head of the Odesa Regional Association of Jews, Roman Schwarzman, delivered a speech before the German Bundestag, drawing parallels between Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and the atrocities committed by the Nazis during World War II.
