Leibel Lazaroff addressing students at UT Chabad. Courtesy: Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission

By Alexander Suster, Campus Outreach Coordinator for the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission

On April 26, 2026, the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission partnered with Chabad of UT Austin to invite Leibel Lazaroff to share his harrowing story of surviving the Bondi Beach attack.

Leibel Lazaroff, from College Station, Texas, had been working with the Chabad in Bondi, Australia for several months in 2025. Just like every year, the local Chabad held a Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach that was regularly attended by over a thousand members of the local Jewish community. During the celebration in 2025, two gunmen started shooting at the crowd of Jews at the Chanukah celebration, killing 15. During the attack, Leibel Lazaroff was shot twice, once in the chest and once in the leg.

However, Leibel’s story isn’t solely about tragedy but a story of heroism and finding light in the face of darkness. During the horrific attack, Leibel could have run, but he didn’t. When an officer was shot by one of the gunmen, Leibel was the one to tend to his wounds and create a makeshift tourniquet to reduce the bleeding.

However, in the face of all this tragedy, what stands out most about Leibel’s retelling of his story is his unwavering ability to find light in something so dark, and his appreciation for all the little miracles that occurred on such a horrific day. During his talk, Leibel recounted to students how he barely made it to the operating table in time, how the bullet in his leg nearly hit his femoral artery, and how the rock-climbing wall at the event served as shelter for many children during the attack. With so much tragedy to focus on, Leibel made it a priority to focus on the positives.

Leibel also highlighted the support he received from the Jewish community and from people of all faiths and backgrounds across the world. As Leibel lay in a hospital bed for weeks, over 8,000 miles away from his home in Texas, he was never left alone. There was always someone by his side, and Leibel expressed his appreciation for all the support, kind messages, and all the mitzvot that people did on his behalf.

Leibel’s talk at UT Chabad is part of the THGAAC’s initiatives combatting antisemitism on college campuses, which is an effort passed by the Texas government to combat the rise in antisemitism in the state. The event was attended by around 70 students during finals week, and the students were all very engaged and moved by Leibel’s story.

Sadie, a Jewish student at UT Austin, noted Leibel’s unique ability in “channeling such a traumatic event into a source of inspiration.” Similarly, Sarie, another student who attended the event, stated how “grateful (she was) to have had the opportunity to hear Leibel talk about his experience,” and that she was reminded of the Jewish communities’ “resilience and joy” in the face of such tragic events. Other students further described the evenings program and Leibel’s story as “powerful,” “unforgettable,” and “deeply inspiring” and how listeners were able to “gather strength” from Leibel’s deeply moving speech.

When thinking about the Bondi Beach shooting, miracles and positivity aren’t the first things that come to mind. Thus, Leibel’s attitude and his willingness to tell his story are so inspiring as he continues to speak, to spread the dangers of antisemitism, and does so with an infectious positivity and appreciation for the world during dark times.