3 Survivors of Bondi Attack at Chabad Shluchos Banquet

EDISON, N.J.—Sunday evening saw some 5,000 Jewish women leaders and guests from around the world gather for the gala banquet of the 35th annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Women Emissaries.

Held at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center on the eve of 22 Shevat, the 38th anniversary of the passing of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, of righteous memory. The glittering event brought together emissaries from some 100 countries for a night of prayer, remembrance, celebration and rededication to their mission serving Jewish communities across the globe.

Three young women from Sydney, Australia, took the stage to lead the assembly in recitations of chapters of Psalms.

Chaya Dadon, 14, who shielded two children with her body during the terror attack at Bondi Beach last Chanukah, introduced herself simply: “I am a young shlucha (emissary of the Rebbe) from Australia.”

She spoke of the harrowing moments when bullets rained down at the Chanukah event, but emphasized that her actions didn;t come from courage. “It came from deep within my neshamah, my soul,” she told the crowd. “I heard G‑d’s voice guiding me.”

This, she explained, is what it means to be a shlucha of the Rebbe: “When the moment comes, you find the strength to act, to be there when it matters most.”

A video presentation then featured Priva Schlanger, eldest daughter of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was murdered in the attack, alongside Mina Levitan, daughter of Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, who was also killed that day. The video showed the young women in their roles as budding Chabad emissaries in Sydney.