Holocaust Survivor Shields Wife in Australia Terror Attack at Hanukkah Celebration – RedState
A grandfather who survived the Holocaust is a hero after using his body to protect his wife during a targeted terrorist attack on Jewish families during a Hanukkah celebration in Australia on Sunday.
Alex Kleytman and his wife of 57 years Larissa joined other families at Sydney’s Bondi Beach for a gathering on the first evening of the Jewish holiday, when a father and son opened fire on the festivities, killing 15 people, including Alex.
At the hospital, Larisa, who is also a Holocaust survivor, was understandably exhausted as she recalled the details of how her husband had protected her with nothing but his body while the bullets flew.
Hero husband Alex died saving his wife of five decades, Larissa – as she relives the horrific moment he was fatally shot in front of her during the Bondi Beach terror attack: ‘He tried to protect me’ https://t.co/a6tjFg59oO
– Daily Mail Australia (@DailyMailAU) December 14, 2025
READ MORE: 12 dead in Sydney terror attack as gunmen target Jewish families at Bondi Beach Hanukkah gathering
MORE: Watch: Breathtaking video shows moment hero takes down Bondi Beach terrorist
“We were standing and all of a sudden the ‘boom boom’ happened and everyone fell,” Larisa said, according to the New York Post.
“Right now, he [Alex] was behind me and at one point he decided to approach me. He pushed his body up because he wanted to stay close to me,” she added. “His body is still there and I’m sitting there and I don’t know what I should do. I don’t have a husband. I don’t know… no one can give me answers.
“I think he was shot because he got up to protect me, in the back of the head,” Larisa continued, according to the Daily Mail.
Both Alex and Larisa were children in Ukraine during World War II and survived the Holocaust only to meet again years later, marry, have childrencelebrate your grandchildren and enjoy five decades of marriage. For it to end this way, all because they were attending a peaceful ceremony celebrating their faith, is nothing short of tragic.
SEE: Death toll rises in Sydney terror attack; Shooters identified as father/son duo
ALSO: Watch: Australian Prime Minister now deflects jihadist attack from ‘right-wing extremists’
And Alex wasn’t the only hero in this tragedy. A man whose family members identified themselves as Ahmed al Ahmed, owner of a fruit store near the beach, didn’t think about his own life and rushed to tackle one of the shooters, as my RedState colleague Teri Christoph reported.
WATCH: Heroic bystander tackles suspected shooter in deadly terror attack during Hanukkah celebration at Australia’s Bondi Beach. pic.twitter.com/sxwWGorN63
– Fox News (@FoxNews) December 14, 2025
However, amid this devastating carnage, a story of great heroism emerges – and it was all caught on camera. The astonishing footage going viral on social media shows a man sneaking up behind one of the gunmen who had walked away from the bridge and positioned himself behind a tree. The apparently unsuspecting terrorist was in the middle of firing a barrage of bullets when the man grabbed the gunman from behind by the neck and snatched the rifle.
A lengthy video shows the terrorist stealthily backing towards the pedestrian bridge where another gunman appears to shoot either the attendees of the Hanukkah by the Sea 2025 event or the hero who was now in possession of the rifle and taking refuge behind the tree (or both). Australian media identified one of the terrorists as Naveed Akram.
Ahmed, 43, a father of two, was reportedly shot several times during the clash. He underwent surgery and is in critical but stable condition.
HERO: Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, tackled one of the terrorists who opened fire during the Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach yesterday.
His actions saved countless lives. Ahmed received 4 to 5 bullets in the arm. He underwent surgery today and is in critical but stable condition.
– Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) December 15, 2025
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns accurately described the attack as what it was: a “cowardly” attack on the Jewish community.
BREAKING: NSW Premier Chris Minns says an attack at Bondi Beach was “designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah”.
Sydney police say nine people were killed in the shooting.
🔗 https://t.co/nnEPjDe8j8
📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/uFFtNrpOMp
– Sky News (@SkyNews) December 14, 2025
“This cowardly act of terrified violence is shocking and painful to witness and represents some of our worst fears about terrorism in Sydney,” Minns said.
“This attack targeted the Jewish community in Sydney on the first day of Hanukkah,” he added. “What should have been a night of peace and joy celebrated in this community with families and supporters was shattered by this horrific, evil attack. »
Closer to home, in Redlands, California, a person’s Hanukkah home was the target of a drive-by shooting, which authorities are investigating as an anti-Semitic hate crime, RedState reported. Surprisingly, no one was injured in the shooting in California, where several families had gathered on Friday.
These stories are developing. Check back with RedState for updates.
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