Ahmed Al-Ahmed, hailed as a hero for his brave actions during a recent incident at Bondi Beach, was celebrated at a Chabad event in New York City on Wednesday evening. He modestly described his courageous act of confronting one of the terrorists as merely fulfilling his “duty as a human being.”
“I’m just doing my duty. Helping and saving… It felt like my responsibility to keep people safe,” Al-Ahmed shared during the annual gala in Manhattan hosted by Kollel Chabad, Israel’s oldest charity.
The Syrian refugee, aged 43, endured five gunshot wounds when a father-son duo opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, tragically claiming at least 15 lives and injuring about 40 others.
“I now view the world through a lens of peace,” he reflected on how the horrific events of December 14 have reshaped his outlook.
He expressed pride that people regarded him as a hero for managing to disarm a gunman before he could attack further.
As he took the stage accompanied by Rabbi Yehoram Ullman, who lost his son-in-law in the attack, Al-Ahmed received a standing ovation. Rabbi Ullman conveyed the deep loss felt by the community, stating, “Fifteen precious souls were taken from us — men, women, and a child of just 10. Each loss feels like a whole world has been taken away.”
Despite the profound grief, Rabbi Ullman emphasized, “The darkness will not win; it won’t diminish our sacred work in any way.”
After arriving in New York, Al-Ahmed visited Ohel Chabad-Lubavitch in Queens and paid his respects at Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson’s gravesite. Many attendees at the celebration, including those who had lost loved ones in the tragedy, expressed heartfelt gratitude towards him.
Amidst the emotional atmosphere, one attendee shared her personal connection: “I came from San Diego to support the community. I lost two friends that day.” She reflected on meeting Al-Ahmed, saying, “I gave him a big hug. He’s a hero to me, and I thanked him for saving so many lives.”
