Hero’s Welcome: Bondi Survivors Receive Standing Ovation in New York

By COLlive reporter

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Ackman was on hand on Wednesday night at the Colel Chabad Dinner in New York City to honor Ahmed Al Ahmed, the unarmed civilian who confronted terrorists during the Chanukah attack in Bondi, Sydney.

Al Ahmed was introduced by Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, the Rabbi and community leader whose Bondi congregation was targeted by the terrorists and who lost his son-in-law, Rabbi Eli Schlanger HYD, in the terror attack.

As Al Ahmed approached the stage, he was greeted with a three-minute standing ovation in recognition of his extraordinary bravery. During the attack, he rushed toward the gunman in an effort to stop further bloodshed and was shot while trying to prevent the terrorists from killing more innocent people. He sustained multiple injuries as a result of his actions.

 

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Ackman visibly choked up as he spoke about a man who chose to jump into danger to save people he did not know. In presenting the award, Ackman reflected at length on the meaning of heroism and why Al Ahmed’s actions stood apart.

“And I thought, what should I speak about tonight? And I thought kind of an opportunity to talk about heroism,” Ackman said. “You know, we’re fortunate in the world to have heroes. Heroes are really amazing people. But even among heroes, there’s a hierarchy of heroism.”

Ackman contrasted the instinct to protect one’s own family with the far rarer decision to intervene on behalf of strangers, referencing the well known phenomenon of the bystander effect.

“When there are a lot of people around the willingness to step forward and put yourself in danger, very few people are going to do so,” he said.

He described first learning about the Bondi attack through videos circulating online. The horror “just seemed to go on and on and on,” Ackman said, until one video showed an unarmed man confronting an armed shooter. While others recorded with their phones, Al Ahmed stepped into the fight.

“He could have minded his own business. No one would ever know that he chose not to intervene,” Ackman said. “So I think that in the hierarchy of heroes, a person that is willing to risk his own life for the benefit of people that he does not know, where he takes on someone who is armed with a weapon and he has none, is an amazing thing.”

Ackman said the outpouring of support for Al Ahmed reflected how deeply people were moved by that decision. Bringing his remarks back to the broader moment, Ackman spoke about the increased challenges facing the Jewish community since October 7.

“It’s been more challenging to be a member of the Jewish community since October 7,” he said, describing how the days that followed, including reactions on university campuses, were deeply painful for Jews around the world. He shared personal reflections about his upbringing, his late father’s concerns about antisemitism, and how those concerns proved prescient.

Ackman concluded by explaining why Al Ahmed’s actions resonated so powerfully.

“Seeing someone step forward on behalf of people he didn’t know, risk his own life, and take on a guy with a gun, was really one of the great acts of heroism,” he said. “It was very reaffirming to the Jewish community to have someone stand up on behalf of our community in the most life-risking way. That’s why we’re here.”

He added that the honor presented symbolized “endurance, courage, persistence, and most of all, light,” reflecting the impact of Al Ahmed’s actions during one of the darkest moments.

The Dinner concluded with dancing to the song ‘Od Yoter Tov,’ uplifting all and reminding that the Jewish people will always rise above the hate, and light and joy will always conquer the darkest moments.