Muslim Hero from Bondi Beach is Gifted a Menorah: “Light Will Win”

Less than a month after the deadly terrorist attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, the annual International Recognition Awards ceremony of Chabad took place last Thursday, honoring acts of courage and moral clarity in the face of evil. One of the evening’s most moving moments came with the tribute to Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian-born shop owner who risked his life to neutralize one of the attackers and help save others.

Jewish billionaire Bill Ackman personally presented al-Ahmed with a menorah (Hannukah festival candelabra), engraved with the words “Light Will Win”.  Ackman also donated in his honor $180,000 to Chabad, underscoring a message of unity that transcends religious and cultural boundaries. Traditionally, Jews often donate variations of the number 18, the numerical value of the word “Chai” – living.

Ackman noted during the ceremony that Jews make up just 0.2% of the world’s population. He said, “Seeing someone step forward on behalf of people he didn’t know, to risk his own life. And you know, the calculus of going after a guy with a gun is really one of the great great acts of heroism.

And I think it was very reaffirming to the Jewish community to have someone stand up on behalf of our community in in the most profound, life affirming way you can. That’s why we’re here. The menorah candelabra represents endurance, represents courage, represents persistence, and most of all represents light and light in the darkness”.

He also spoke candidly about the injuries he sustained while stopping the attacker. “Honestly, there is pain. My fingers don’t really work right now,” he said. “But everything will be okay. I need time—one month, two months, that’s what the doctor says. I hope everything will be fine.”

The Bondi Beach Terror Attack

The ceremony came against the backdrop of one of the most shocking terrorist attacks in Australia’s recent history. During a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, two terrorists opened fire on the crowd, murdering 15 people and wounding dozens more.

Subsequent findings by Australian police revealed that the attack could have been even more catastrophic. According to court documents and reporting by Reuters, moments before the shooting began, the attackers, Sajid Akram (50) and his son Naveed Akram (24), hurled pipe bombs and improvised explosive devices into the crowd. Miraculously, the explosives failed to detonate.

Investigators later determined that the terrorists had planned the attack for months. Their home contained bomb-making materials, 3D-printed weapon parts, and propaganda footage featuring ISIS flags and explicit calls for violence against Jews and Zionists.  Sajid was killed at the scene, while his son now faces charges of 59 serious offenses including murder and terrorism.

Authorities emphasized that the swift response of security forces, combined with the courageous actions of civilians like Ahmed al-Ahmed, prevented an even greater disaster. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for national unity and announced new legislative steps to combat extremism, incitement, terrorism, and antisemitic hate crimes.

In the days following the attack, Australia observed a National Day of Reflection. Flags were lowered to half-staff, a moment of silence was held at the exact time the attack began, and citizens across the country were encouraged to light a Hanukkah candle in memory of the victims.

In honoring  al-Ahmed, the Chabad ceremony offered a powerful counter-image to terror: a Muslim risking his life to save Jews, and a Jewish leader honoring that courage with a symbol of faith, perseverance, and light. In a moment of profound darkness, such acts stand as a living testimony that evil does not have the final word—and that indeed, the light will win.