Surviving the Bondi Beach Terror Attack

Surviving the Bondi Beach Terror Attack

Author: Meaningful Minute December 17, 2025 Duration: 48:29

A Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach turned into a scene of terror.

 

In this episode of the Meaningful People Podcast, we sit with a father and community leader who survived the Bondi Beach terror attack. His children were nearby. What he first thought were fireworks quickly became gunshots. Within moments, people were running, hiding, and falling.

 

He shares, in real time, what it was like to be there:

– realizing the danger

– hiding with his daughter

– searching desperately for his son

– trying to help the wounded while protecting his child

 

This conversation was recorded shortly after the attack, while the pain was still raw. It is honest, emotional, and unfiltered.

 

We also speak about what came next. Lighting the menorah that night. Explaining fear to children. Holding onto faith and responsibility when everything feels shaken.

 

This episode is not about headlines or politics.

It's about survival, parenthood, community, and choosing light in the aftermath of terror.

 

Our hearts are with all those affected by this attack, including the family of Rabbi Elie Schlinger, a beloved husband, father, and community leader who was killed. A link to support the Schlinger family is included below, as mentioned in the episode.

 

If this story resonates, please consider sharing it.

 

Support the Schlinger family:

https://www.charidy.com/elischlanger/613Help?utm_source=15mp


Every week, Nachi and Momo sit down for a conversation that feels more like a discovery than an interview. Their Meaningful People podcast explores the journeys of fascinating individuals from across the Jewish world, though you don't need to be Jewish to find their stories compelling. These are artists, educators, thinkers, and community builders-people whose lives are driven by purpose. Each episode delves into the personal turning points, challenges, and inspirations that shaped them, moving beyond public personas to reveal the real human experience behind them. You’ll hear conversations that are as likely to be funny and lighthearted as they are profound and reflective, offering a genuine sense of connection. This isn't about abstract ideas, but about the lived wisdom that comes from a life examined. Tune in for a weekly dose of perspective that feels both uplifting and grounding, a reminder of the diverse paths that lead to a meaningful life. From Meaningful Minute, this podcast sits at the unique intersection of spirituality, self-improvement, and education, all through the power of personal narrative.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Meaningful People
Podcast Episodes
He Escaped From the 78th Floor on 9/11 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:19
As we mark 25 years since September 11, we're revisiting Ari Schonbrun's extraordinary story of survival. Ari worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 101st floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower. A series of seemingly…
Yudi & Chumi Herzberg: The Story of Charlotte [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:00
This week, Nachi Gordon sits down with Yudi and Chumi Herzberg to talk about the life, story, and legacy of their daughter Charlotte, who passed away in a car accident on June 2. Yudi and Chumi walk through what made Cha…
R' Benjamin Goldschmidt: The Crazy Story Behind a $35 Million Shul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:33
Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt grew up in Moscow as the son of the city's chief rabbi, trained in Bnei Brak and Ponovezh, and spent a decade as assistant rabbi at Manhattan's Park East Synagogue — until he was abruptly and v…
The Husband Coach: Why Your Wife May Resent You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:31
Josh Livingstone is a husband coach who works almost exclusively with men, and in this episode he explains why so many well-intentioned husbands still leave their wives feeling unheard. He and Nachi unpack what he calls…
Maya Namdar | Hashem Took My Daughter. Why Do I Still Believe? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:55
Five years ago, Maya Namdar's world changed forever when a drunk driver took the life of her daughter Liel, just moments after a Shabbaton reunion in Woodmere. In her second appearance on Meaningful People, Maya returns…