Remembering Matilda: A Loving Tribute to Bondi Shooting Victim

Thu Dec 18 2025 22:05:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

At her funeral, Matilda's aunt urged the community to honor her memory by spreading love, as leaders speak out against rising antisemitism following the tragic incident at Bondi Beach.

The funeral of 10-year-old Matilda, a victim of the tragic Bondi Beach shooting, took place in Sydney, where her family and the community mourned her loss and called for love over anger. Matilda was among 15 individuals killed during a Hanukkah celebration. Her aunt spoke of Matilda's joyful spirit and urged that in her memory, love must prevail. The attack has intensified discussions about antisemitism in Australia, with police designating it as a terrorist incident.

The family of the Bondi shooting's youngest victim, Matilda, urged the community not to let her death fuel anger, as they said a final goodbye to the 10-year-old on Thursday.

Matilda was among 15 people who were shot dead when two gunmen opened fire on an event marking the start of Hanukkah at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday.

Speaking to the BBC at Matilda's funeral, her aunt Lina Chernykh said the Jewish community is right to want more action to stamp out antisemitism – she does too.

But she said Matilda was a joyous child who spread love everywhere she went, and urged the community to do the same in her honour.

Take your anger and… just spread happiness and love and memory for my lovely niece, Ms Chernykh said.

I hope maybe she's an angel now. Maybe she [will] send some good vibes to the world.

Jewish community leaders have in recent days suggested the tragedy was an inevitable result of Australia struggling to address rising antisemitism.

The attack on Sunday was the country's deadliest incident since 1996, when a gunman killed 35 people during the Port Arthur massacre.

Mourners - including the Governor General Sam Mostyn and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns - packed out the service in Sydney, wearing bee broaches and stickers as a tribute to the girl who adored them.

Michael and Valentyna had named their daughter after the song Waltzing Matilda, as a tribute to the country where their Ukrainian family found safety.

She's waltzing with the angels, Minns said, reading a poem in her honour.

Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, who led the service, had to pause and collect himself as he paid tribute to Matilda's short life. The tragic, so totally cruel, unfathomable murder of young Matilda is something to all of us as if our own daughter was taken from us, he said.

Police have designated the attack a terrorist incident, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying it appears to have been motivated by Islamic State group ideology. The alleged gunmen, a father and son duo, have been linked to increased antisemitic rhetoric across Australia.