In a heartbreaking and deeply emotional funeral attended by hundreds of residents, friends, and relatives, Dan Elkayam, HY”D, was laid to rest today in Ashdod, where his family lives. Elkayam, originally from France, was one of the 15 murdered in the brutal terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney on the first night of Chanukah, a tragedy that has shaken Jewish communities across the globe.

Among those present were Minister of Communications Dr. Shlomo Karai, Ashdod Mayor Dr. Yehiel Lasri, French Ambassador to Israel Frédéric Journes, family friend Rabbi Chaim Amar, and Rabbi Ovadia Dehan, chairman of the Ashdod Religious Council.

The central speech was delivered in English by Rabbi Schneur Zalman Goodman, the Rebbe’s shliach to Ashdod, speaking on behalf of the Rebbe’s shluchim throughout Australia and worldwide. Rabbi Goodman opened by acknowledging the dignitaries in attendance before relaying the message he felt certain the murdered shluchim would have wanted to convey had they been present that day.

“On the eighth night of Chanukah,” Rabbi Goodman said in a voice choking with emotion, “the final night of Chanukah, in the very same place where blood, massacre, murder, and torture took place, 20,000 people gathered to light the eighth candle of Chanukah and to declare: ‘We will go on. Nothing will stop us. We will continue to illuminate this world with the light of Torah and the light of mitzvos. Nothing, nothing, will stop us.’”

Addressing Elkayam directly, Rabbi Goodman spoke of the legacy left behind by the victims. “You and your comrades died a special death,” he said, referring to their passing al kiddush Hashem. “But your death is not something of the past. Your spirit is uniting the Jewish nation. You are giving the Jewish people determination to move forward, to continue transforming darkness into light and evil into good. That is something you and your friends have influenced.”

“We will remember you not as someone of the past, but as someone influencing us now, in the present, and who will continue to influence us in the future, as the Jewish people continue their long, painful journey to bring light into the world.”

In closing, Rabbi Goodman issued a moving appeal to the departed: “As you stand in Heaven before G-d Almighty, pray for your family. Pray that Hashem grant them strength and the ability to cope with this terrible tragedy. Pray for the families of your comrades, your friends in Australia, who were murdered together with you in cold blood. Pray for all of Israel. Tell G-d: enough. Enough of our suffering. May He bring us the geulah.”

The address was broadcast live by media outlets in Israel and around the world, leaving a lasting impression on those present, who mourned in pain yet remained resolute and committed to continuing to light the world.

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