Boris and Sofia Gurman remembered as heroes
Funeral services were held for Boris and Sofia Gurman who were remembered as heroes of the Bondi terror attack
Noting the crushing fact that it was the first time in many, many years that Rabbi Yehoram Ulman had had to deliver a eulogy for both a husband and wife at the one funeral, he described Boris and Sofia Gurman – at their funeral this morning inside the packed memorial hall at Sydney’s Chevra Kadisha – as true heroes and martyrs, who gave their lives to protect others.
The couple – who had been married for 34 years – had selflessly confronted one of the two terrorists early on in the deadly attack that targeted Jews celebrating the first night of Chanukah at the communal event at Bondi Beach.
Rabbi Ulman emphasised that, according to Jewish belief, “a separate place in heaven is reserved for holy martyrs, and they [Boris and Sofia] belong to that [category].
“Boris was taken from us, not just because he was Jewish . . . [but also because] he was fighting to be Jewish [defending his people].
“If you saw the footage, he was the first to come towards that footbridge [to confront a terrorist], and when he did, he and the terrorist comes down, and then sadly, Boris, and Sofia, got killed.”
Memorial prayers were recited, including the first by Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mervis – the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth.
NSW Premier Chris Minns also attended the service.
Rabbi Ulman then read a beautiful message written by the couple’s son, Alex.
One paragraph in particular perhaps summed up best who, and how, they lived.
“Family, for them, went beyond blood – it included those they lived near, worked alongside, and shared the daily lives with. They lived those values quietly and consistently, and even in the final moments of their lives, they showed the depth of who they were by facing those moments with courage, selflessness and love. In doing so, they reminded us that they were not only devoted parents, but in every sense of the word, heroes.”
Boris, 69, and Sofia, 61, had left, in Soviet times, what is now Ukraine, to start a new life in Australia, and learn a new language, making Sydney home.
“They were partners in every sense, and together they built a life filled with warmth, effort, and love,” read Rabbi Ulman.
Boris, a retired mechanic, was renown for his generosity, quiet strength, and willingness to help others. Also, for being quite a character.
“If there was mischief to be found, more often than not, Boris was the one to find it – but over time, his mischief matured into a responsibility and care for the world around him.
“He was a tireless worker . . . he also loved a chat, and no matter how well he knew you, or how fluent their shared language was, Boris always found a way to connect.”
Sofia was remembered for her sense of trusted responsibility, her practical leadership, her generous spirit, and most of all how “she showed her love in every tangible way” . . . which included through food.
“Everyone knew and looked forward to Sofia’s traditional Soviet wafer cake – it became something of a legend.
Sofia was “the ever-present mother, who made sure everyone was well fed, well looked after, and never short of love.”
She was also well-known for having a chat while working at an Australia Post outlet in Bondi to fellow Jewish customers, in Russian.
Rabbi Ulman described the Bondi Beach Chanukah terror attack as, “for us [Australia’s Jewish community], our October 7, relatively speaking.
“For each family, it’s a personal tragedy – a personal loss that cannot be mended.
“At the same time, every single member of our community feels the pain in each other.
“Despite the pain, it seems that will never leave us, it would be mutually disrespectful to lift our hands and say, what’s the point?
“The Jewish people would not be still here today today if that was the case.
“So, together, as one family, the Jewish people . . . will only become stronger, bigger, and more committed [in response].
“And the amount of good deeds that were done in the world in the last few days is astonishing.
“It’s something which, I imagine, is all in honour, memory, and respect to those individuals – including Boris and Sofia – who gave their lives for Jewishkeit, for being Jewish.”
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