The Sydney Jewish community, joined by political leaders, gathered in profound grief on Friday to farewell Boris and Sofia Gurman, the courageous couple killed while trying to stop a gunman during the Bondi terrorist attack.
A Separate Place in Heaven for Heroes
Addressing a packed funeral home at the Chevra Kadisha in Woollahra, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman told mourners the couple's supreme bravery had earned them a unique honour. He said a separate "place in heaven" was reserved for Boris, 69, and Sofia, 61, whom he described as heroes and holy martyrs (Kedoshim). "Boris and Sofia were taken from us not just because they were Jewish but fighting for being Jewish," Rabbi Ulman stated.
The rabbi, who has led several funerals for victims of the Sunday evening attack, drew a sombre comparison, saying the shooting at Bondi beach was "comparable to the 7th of October in Israel, relatively speaking". He wept as he recalled the couple's son, Alex, and assured him that despite appearances, his parents were "closer than all of us" to their faith.
Remembering 'A Presence' in Life
The service painted a vivid picture of the couple, who died in each other's arms on Campbell Parade. A tribute written by their son, Alex, was read aloud, beginning: "If you were lucky enough to know Sofia and Boris, you didn't just know them, you felt their presence in your life".
Sofia, 61, was remembered as a woman with a "natural authority" and a quietly decisive leader, whose love was shown "in every tangible way", especially through food. She was a beloved member of the Bondi post office team, a fact marked by colleagues attending in their Australia Post uniforms.
Boris, a retired mechanic, was recalled as open, warm, and good-humoured, a man who deeply loved his garden, home, and family. His youthful energy had "matured into a deep sense of responsibility and care for the world around him". The rabbi also honoured their resilience as emigrants from Soviet Ukraine who built a proud new life in Sydney, considering Bondi Beach their paradise.
A Community and Nation Mourns
The funeral drew a wide cross-section of mourners, from men in kippahs to people in suits and T-shirts, the old and the young. Among the attendees were New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, Minister Ron Hoenig, federal MP Matt Thistlethwaite, Israel's Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon, and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip.
The scale of the loss was palpable. "Yesterday we buried a 10-year-old girl and today … it's been years since I've seen two coffins next to each other," Rabbi Ulman told the gathering. The funeral home was filled to capacity, with mourners spilling out the door, as a dozen police officers stood watch and traffic lanes were closed for the twin hearses.
Boris and Sofia Gurman were the first of 15 people killed when father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram opened fire on Hanukah celebrations. Dashcam footage, widely circulated online, captured the moment Boris bravely tackled shooter Sajid Akram early in the attack. Separate drone footage later showed the couple lying motionless together on the footpath, a final, tragic testament to their bond and their courage.
