The family of Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi shooting, urged the community not to let her death fuel anger, saying goodbye to the 10-year-old on Thursday.
Matilda was among 15 people who were shot dead when two gunmen opened fire on Sunday during an event to mark the start of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
Speaking to the BBC at Matilda’s funeral, her aunt Lina Chernykh said the Jewish community was right to want more action to stamp out anti-Semitism – so did they.
But she said Matilda was a joyful child who spread love wherever she went and urged the community to do the same in her honour.
“Take your anger and… just spread happiness, love and remembrance of my lovely niece,” Ms Chernykh said.
“I hope maybe she’s an angel now. Maybe she [will] sends good vibes to the world.
Jewish community leaders have suggested in recent days that the tragedy was the inevitable result of Australia’s struggle to combat rising anti-Semitism.
Sunday’s attack was the country’s deadliest incident since 1996, when a gunman killed 35 people in the Port Arthur massacre.
Mourners, including Governor-General Sam Mostyn and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, packed the service in Sydney, wearing bee brooches and stickers in tribute to the girl who adored them.
Michael and Valentyna named their daughter after the song Waltzing Matilda, in homage to the country where their Ukrainian family found refuge.
“She waltzes with the angels,” Minns said while reading a poem in her honor.
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, who led the service, had to pause and compose himself as he paid tribute to Matilda’s short life.
“The tragic, so cruel and unfathomable murder of young Matilda is for all of us something like having our own daughter taken from us,” he said.
The service heard how she lived with beauty, kindness and righteousness.
“Jews… believe that death is not eternal… it is not because we are naive,” Rabbi Ulman said.
“I tell you with absolute conviction that separation from Matilda is not forever.”
Still, he admitted his words would likely bring little comfort – something he knows all too well. The day before, Rabbi Ulman had spoken at the funeral of his own son-in-law, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was also killed in the Bondi attack.
“You give me strength at a time when you yourself need it. And I’m trying to do the same,” he told Matilda’s parents, who were sobbing in the front row.
Ms Chernykh had earlier said the family was devastated.
“I look at their faces [and] I don’t know if they’ll ever be happy again,” she said of Matilda’s parents.
Matilda’s younger sister, from whom she was “inseparable”, is upset and confused, she says. “She doesn’t have enough tears to cry.”
The same day, the youngest victim of the massacre was buried, as well as his eldest. A service for Alex Kleytman – an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor – was held Thursday morning at the same funeral home.
In a statement, his family said he died doing what he loved most: protecting his wife Larisa and celebrating his Jewish faith.
“The two gunmen killed him, but his memories, his legacy and his books will bring light to generations to come,” it reads.
Police described the attack as a terrorist incident, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying it appeared to have been “motivated by the ideology of the Islamic State group.”
Police say the two gunmen were a father and son. Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead at the scene, while his son Naveed, 24, was charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of a terrorist act.
Australia announced on Thursday it would strengthen laws aimed at cracking down on hatred, including introducing powers to cancel or refuse visas on grounds of anti-Semitism.
