COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday shook a crowd of more than 1,000 people celebrating the first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.
Among those attending was Leibel Lazaroff, a 20-year-old from College Station who is now in the intensive care unit fighting for his life.
KPRC 2 spoke with Lazaroff’s uncle, Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff of Chabad of Houston, who said Leibel was volunteering his time to support the local Jewish community in Sydney.
“My sister-in-law posted that they couldn’t reach him, and an hour later we got word that he was one of the victims in the attack and was critically injured in the hospital,” Rabbi Lazaroff said.
Leibel’s parents are now on their way to Sydney to be by his side. His family learned earlier today that he woke up and is communicating.
Rabbi Lazaroff described his nephew as a vibrant, wonderful young man who never deserved to go through such a tragedy.
When asked how he remains calm amid the crisis, Rabbi Lazaroff said, “We thankfully have our Torah as our guidebook. It teaches us that what allows us to rise above adversity is standing strong in our faith and virtues.”
Rabbi Lazaroff is asking the Jewish and Houston communities to come together in prayer tonight, hoping for Leibel’s swift recovery and return home.