Swift courage, unlocked door, and faith thwart terror, honoring Jewish resilience while Israel stands vigilant.
An unlocked pickup and a split-second choice spared the lives of Benjamin and Reizel Simons as gunfire tore through a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Moments after leaving the gathering, shots rang out. Younger attendees dropped beneath parked cars, but the elderly couple knew they couldn’t. Moving car to car, they noticed a pickup with a side door ajar—an opening that would become their refuge.
Inside the truck, they hid and prayed. At one terrifying instant, Benjamin Simons looked up to see the shooter aligned with the vehicle. “Getting into that truck saved my life and my wife’s life,” he later recalled. Every other nearby car was locked. That single open door, they said, felt like a Hanukkah miracle.
The vehicle belonged to Josh Pulford, who had fled moments earlier after spotting the attackers. Returning once police began securing the area, Pulford discovered the couple sheltering inside. He urged them to stay put until authorities cleared the scene, then helped escort them to safety. Another passerby ensured they reached home.
Only later, after viewing footage, did the Simons grasp how narrowly they escaped. The massacre claimed fifteen lives and sent shockwaves through Australia’s Jewish community and beyond, as first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald. Amid the horror, the story stands as a testament to Jewish resilience—and a reminder that vigilance against terror remains essential.
