Bondi Beach survivor brings story of resilience to Pittsburgh
Leibel Lazaroff to appear in Pittsburgh Nov. 3
Leibel Lazaroff said there are times when you act on instinct without weighing the possible personal consequences of your actions.
He knows of what he speaks.
Lazaroff is a native Texan who traveled to Sydney, Australia, for a rabbinic internship with Eli Schlanger, the assistant rabbi at Chabad-Lubavitch of Bondi. He was with the rabbi on Dec. 14, 2025, celebrating Chanukah at Bondi Beach when two gunmen opened fire, killing 15 and wounding more than 40 people — including Schlanger, whom Lazaroff considered his mentor.
Without thinking of his own well-being, Lazaroff, then just 20 years old, helped wounded police constable Scott Dyson, using his shirt as a tourniquet to stem the officer’s bleeding. He requested the officer’s weapon before being shot twice in his chest, abdomen and leg.
Asked where he found the courage to head into the danger of a mass shooting, Lazaroff credits the unique qualities found in Americans, specifically those who were brought up in Texas. It’s something the state’s Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed when the two met.
“I told the governor that it was because I was raised in America, in part, that I found the strength to do what I did. He said, ‘It’s because you’re a Texan,’” Lazaroff recalled.
Lazaroff endured several surgeries and an extended stay in the intensive care unit. Although he has fully recovered, he said the absence of visible wounds has given him a mission to share his story as an example of the strength of the Jewish people.
He does so by visiting different cities and recounting the events of Dec. 14, 2025, through story and song.
“I feel a responsibility to share my story because it’s impacting lives,” he said. “The reason I get energy for every single event is because of the previous events, seeing the impact it has on people and meeting new people — young and old, proud, strong Jews — who face the same discrimination and stand up for themselves.”
Batya Rosenblum, co-Director of Chabad of the South Hills, said she is excited to bring Lazaroff to Pittsburgh, having learned of his willingness to speak through other Chabad centers. His story, she said, is one that needs to be heard, as is his gift of song.
“He’s an incredible musician and sings beautifully,” she noted.
So entwined with music is Lazaroff, that a portable keyboard was brought into the hospital for him to play as he recovered, Rosenblum said.
When he was released from the hospital, Lazaroff had the opportunity to visit the Sydney Opera House and perform one of the songs there that he will sing in Pittsburgh. Another piece on the Pittsburgh program is one Lazaroff wrote and previously performed with Schlanger.
The combination of music, storytelling and visuals create a compelling presentation, Rosenblum said, filled with resilience and positivity.
“I mean there are terrible scars and wounds and grief and pain, and families that lost loved ones, and yet at the same time, to hear Leibel tell his story is literally taking you on the journey of his life,” she said. “And through each piece is his connection to God.”
Lazaroff will share his story in Pittsburgh on Nov. 3, a week after the commemoration of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Rosenblum said that whether it’s Oct. 27, Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack, or the Bondi Beach shooting, there are stories of faith and strength to be found.
“That’s the eternal message of Am Israel Chai,” she said. “We are here. We are eternal. We are resilient. We bounce back. You don’t start with us because we outlive all these other nations that have tried to wipe us out, whether it was the Persians, Greeks, Romans or Germans.”
Lazaroff agreed. He said his message is one of “how we stand in the face of darkness.”
“Everyone showing up and connecting in unity is one of the greatest possible Jewish answers to something that happened that was extremely dark and is very powerful,” he said. “It’s a very, very powerful message of onward and forward. We’re all connected. We’re all brothers and sisters. It’s an important way of showing the strength of the Jewish community during such a sensitive time of the year which could be difficult for many.”
Register for “An Evening of Stories and Songs with Leibel Lazaroff,” on Chadad of the South Hills’ website. PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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