The brutal attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach has shaken Australian society. In this terrifying event, two terrorists—a father and son duo—unleashed chaos, but amongst them were heroes who stood firm against darkness with humanity and valor. They paid the ultimate sacrifice in the process.
Reuven Morrison, 62, exemplified this courage. In a video that went viral from the Bondi Beach attack, an individual can be seen bravely hurling bricks at a terrorist who was incessantly firing his rifle. Despite having nothing else at his disposal, he began launching bricks at the attackers.
While throwing bricks at armed terrorists might seem like a rash act, it holds symbolic significance. It is a testament to resistance against terror.
Reuven Morrison’s daughter identified the brave soul as her father, who succumbed to the terrorists' gunfire.
Sheena Gutnick, Reuven Morrison’s daughter, shared the impactful narrative, "As soon as the firing began, my father leaped into action and successfully threw bricks at the terrorists, shouting at them as he tried to protect his community before he was shot."
Gutnick continued,
"If there was ever a way for him to leave this earth, it would be fighting a terrorist. There was no other way he could have been taken from us. He fell while protecting those he loved the most.”
Street camera footage reveals that Reuven did not run from danger; instead, he charged towards it to save lives. The footage shows Reuven with a stone in hand, advancing towards a terrorist to distract and confront him, buying precious moments for the crowd to flee.
A rabbi paid tribute, noting,
"His efforts in halting the terrorists provided enough time for others to escape, hide, and survive. Tragically, another attacker shot him down, yet his deeds saved dozens, possibly hundreds, of Jewish lives. He was not just 'a victim of the attack,' but a hero who laid down his life for others."
When asked how she felt upon seeing footage of her father, Gutnick remarked, "That’s him. That’s my dad. In Yiddish, I called him my 'Tatti.'"
Gutnick described him as an extraordinary person whose greatness was palpable to those who knew him. His light, infinite generosity, and sense of humor were beyond measure. Simply put, he was the most wonderful person.
Morrison was a member of the Chabad community and a businessman originally from the Soviet Union, who rediscovered his Jewish identity in Sydney.
Reuven Morrison split his time between Sydney and Melbourne and lived with his wife and daughter.
Chavie Bloch, who managed to shield herself and her six-month-old from the gunfire and knew many victims, stated, "Morrison was an incredibly compassionate soul."
Death Toll and Casualties:
As of now, 15 people have tragically lost their lives, including a 10-year-old girl, in the terrorist attack on December 14th, 2025. The attack occurred during the Jewish community's Hanukkah celebrations at Sydney's Bondi Beach, involving two terrorists who were father and son. The first terrorist, Sajid Akram, 54, was shot dead by police, while the second, Naveed Akram, 24, was severely injured and remains hospitalized facing terrorism charges.
