Aunt of 10-year-old victim says: ‘Maybe she’s an angel now’

The family of Matilda, the youngest victim in the Bundy shootings, urged the community not to let her death spark outrage as they said their final goodbyes to the 10-year-old on Thursday.

Matilda was one of 15 people killed when two gunmen opened fire on Sunday at an event celebrating the start of Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

Speaking to the BBC at Matilda’s funeral, her aunt Lena Chernich said the Jewish community was right to want more action to stamp out anti-Semitism – and she did the same.

But she said Matilda was a happy child who spread love wherever she went and urged the community to do the same for her.

“Stop your anger… spread joy, love and memories to my sweet niece,” Ms. Chernik said.

“I hope she might be an angel now. Maybe she’ll bring some good vibes to the world.”

Jewish community leaders have said in recent days that the tragedy was an inevitable consequence of Australia’s efforts to deal with rising anti-Semitism.

Sunday’s attack was the country’s worst since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, when a gunman killed 35 people.

Mourners – including Governor-General Sam Mostyn and New South Wales Premier Chris Mings – attended the funeral in Sydney, wearing bee pins and stickers to pay tribute to the girl who adored them.

Michael and Valentina named their daughter after the song “Waltzing Matilda” as a tribute to the country where their Ukrainian family found safety.

“She was waltzing with the angels,” Minns said, reciting a poem in her honor.

Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, who presided over the service, had to pause to collect himself and pay his respects to Matilda’s short life.

He said: “The tragic, so cruel and unfathomable murder of young Matilda was, for all of us, as if our own daughter had been taken from us.”

Service members listened as she lived a life of beauty, kindness and justice.

“Jews…believe that death is not eternal…and it’s not because we are naive,” Rabbi Ullman said.

“I tell you with absolute certainty that the separation from Matilda is not permanent.”

However, he acknowledged that his words may not bring much comfort – something he knows all too well. A day earlier, Rabbi Ullman spoke at the funeral of his own son-in-law, Rabbi Elie Schlanger, who was also killed in the Bundy attack.

“You gave me strength when you yourself needed it. I tried to do the same,” he told Matilda’s parents, who sobbed in the front row.

Ms Chernykh said earlier the family was devastated.

“I looked at their faces and I didn’t know if they would ever be happy again,” she said of Matilda’s parents.

Matilda’s sister, with whom she was “inseparable”, said she was left devastated and confused. “She doesn’t have enough tears to cry.”

On the same day, the youngest and oldest victims of the Holocaust were laid to rest. Funeral services for 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman were held Thursday morning at the same funeral home.

His family said in a statement that he died doing what he loved best: protecting his wife, Larissa, and celebrating his Jewish faith.

“Two gunmen killed him, but his memory, his legacy and his books will shine a bright light for generations to come,” the letter reads.

Police have characterized the attack as a terrorist incident, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it appeared to be “driven by the ideology of the Islamic State group.”

Police said the two gunmen were a father and son. Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead at the scene, as was his 24-year-old son Naveed. Charged with 59 countsincluding 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.

Australia announced on Thursday that it would Strengthening laws to combat hatred – Includes the introduction of powers to cancel or refuse visas on the grounds of anti-Semitism.