The family of Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi shooting, has appealed to the community not to allow her death to generate anger, as mourners gathered in Sydney on Thursday to farewell the 10-year-old.
Matilda was among 15 people killed when two gunmen opened fire at a public event marking the beginning of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach on Sunday. The attack has been described by authorities as the deadliest mass-casualty incident in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
Matilda’s aunt, Lina Chernykh, acknowledged calls from within the Jewish community for stronger action to address antisemitism, saying she shared those concerns. However, she urged people to honour Matilda’s memory by responding with compassion rather than hostility.
She described Matilda as a joyful child who brought warmth to those around her, and said the family hoped that spirit would be reflected in the community’s response to the tragedy.
The service was attended by several senior figures, including Governor-General Sam Mostyn and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns. Many mourners wore bee-themed pins and stickers, reflecting Matilda’s fondness for the insect. Her parents, Michael and Valentyna, had named her after the song Waltzing Matilda, referencing Australia as a place of refuge for their Ukrainian family.
Premier Minns read a poem in tribute, while Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, who led the service, spoke emotionally about the loss, likening it to the loss of a child shared by the entire community. He also addressed Jewish beliefs surrounding death and remembrance, while acknowledging that words offered limited comfort in the face of such loss.
Rabbi Ulman himself had spoken at another funeral the previous day for his son-in-law, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was also killed in the attack.
Family members described the profound impact of Matilda’s death on her parents and younger sister. Ms Chernykh said the family was struggling to comprehend the scale of their loss, recounting the shock of learning about the shooting by phone.
Earlier this week, Matilda’s mother told mourners at a memorial that the family was living through what she described as a nightmare.
Police have classified the Bondi attack as a terrorist incident. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said authorities believe it was motivated by Islamic State ideology. Investigators allege the two attackers were a father and son. The older man was killed at the scene, while the younger has been charged with multiple offences, including murder and committing a terrorist act.
In response to the attack, the federal government announced plans to strengthen laws targeting hate-related conduct, including new powers to cancel or deny visas on the grounds of antisemitism.
