Son of Texas Shluchim Remains in Sydney ICU Following Attack

By COLlive reporter

A Chabad bochur who was assisting the Shluchim in Bondi, Sydney, Australia, this year remains hospitalized in the ICU after being seriously wounded in a terror attack that targeted a Chanukah event in Sydney on the first night of Chanukah.

Leibel Lazaroff, 20, the son of Shluchim Yossi and Manya Lazaroff, Shluchim at University of Texas A&M, was among dozens injured when gunmen opened fire at the annual “Chanukah by the Sea” event in Bondi Beach.

Assisting Rabbi Eli Schlanger in organizing and running the event, Leibel was struck by shrapnel and sustained life-threatening injuries. Rabbi Schlanger was murdered along with 14 others.

Speaking to the New York Post, Lazaroff’s uncle, Zalman Lazaroff, said his nephew is “critical but stable,” adding that “he still has shrapnel in his abdomen and right thigh and will need another surgery to clean it out.”

Lazaroff, who grew up on the Texas A&M campus where his parents serve as Shluchim, headed out to Sydney to serve as a Bochur Shliach, just after Tishrei.

His uncle describes him as one of nine siblings and a gifted pianist with a natural ability to connect with people.

During the attack, two gunmen stormed the beachfront gathering with firearms, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than 40, including children. Australian authorities continue to investigate what is being described as the country’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades.

Despite the fear and shock reverberating through Jewish communities worldwide, Lazaroff’s family has emphasized resilience and faith. In a message shared with supporters, his mother asked that people “add music, light, and joy this Chanukah” in merit of the recovery of all those injured.

His parents later sent word thanking G-d that their son is alive following surgery, though he remains in serious condition.

Leibel’s father, Yossi Lazaroff, wrote on X that he is traveling to Australia to be with his son.

“Sitting on a very long plane ride to Australia from Texas, while still grappling with the lives lost & communicating with the hospital as my son Leibel goes into multiple surgeries for his life threatening injuries. Leibel was spreading light, helping a community thrive, volunteering his year to bring joy to others. While doing so, a father & son duo, filled with an ideology of Jewish hatred, hunted him & his fellow Jews down. This is about good vs evil, light vs darkness, up-standers vs bystanders. It’s your choice to make. Who are you?” he wrote.

On Tuesday, Leibel’s family updated that he is “awake and in good spirits. He has a long road ahead for recovery, and we ask everyone to continue saying Tehillim and adding in Mitzvos.”

Please continue to say Tehillim for Yehuda Leib Ben Manya.

שעשה ניסים לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה. pic.twitter.com/3UXzNXgwRX

— Yossi Lazaroff 👍 (@AggieRabbi) December 15, 2025