It’s been a week. I’m sure, like all of us here at TDA, you’ve spent each day trying to process the senseless violence we saw unfold at Bondi Beach last weekend.

15 innocent people were killed, many others were injured, and a community was left forever traumatised.

In the days since, we’ve seen the world wrap its arms around the Jewish people of Bondi. I got the chance to go to the growing memorial site and the droves of people turning up to show support gave me great comfort.

Today, we’ve decided to take you through some of the stories of the people that bravely put their lives on the line to try and stop Sunday’s terror attack.

I hope this newsletter brings you some reprieve, and hopefully restores a little bit of your faith in the goodness of humanity.

And don’t forget, help is always available. NSW Health’s dedicated Mental Health Line, is available 24/7 on 1800 011 511. Lifeline is also available 24/7 on 13 11 14.

Video of the Syrian-born Australian citizen Ahmed Al Ahmed disarming one of the alleged shooters quickly went viral following the attack.

In his efforts to stop the mass shooting, Ahmed was shot in the arm five times.

He is currently recovering in hospital where he has been visited by NSW Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who called him “a true Australian hero.”

The 43-year-old has also received an outpouring of support online, with a GoFundMe page raising more than $2.5 million for Ahmed who “stepped forward without hesitation” in “a moment of chaos and danger.”

A tobacconist by trade, Ahmed’s shop in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire has been covered in flowers and gifts all week long.

Back in his hometown of Al Nayrab in Syria, Ahmed’s uncle Wahid Al Ahmed told the ABC that his nephew is “a brave and honourable young man.”

Ahmed isn’t the only person who put himself in danger though. Here’s what we know about the other people who tried to stop the attack

Russian-Jewish couple Boris and Sofia Gurman were walking along Campbell Parade on Sunday when Sajid Akram, one of the alleged gunmen, emerged from a parked car with a gun.

Dashcam video circulating online shows 69-year-old Boris tackling Sajid to the ground and forcing the weapon from his hands.

Drone footage of the event shows the Gurmans died holding each other.

Boris was a retired mechanic and Sofia worked for Australia Post. The husband and wife had been married for 34 years.

In a statement to the media, the Gurman family said: “Boris and Sofia were longtime Bondi locals who loved their community and the life they had built there.”

In regard to their actions on Sunday, the family said: “This encapsulates who Boris and Sofia were — people who instinctively and selflessly tried to help others.

Donations to support the Gurman family have currently reached over $600k.

As the attackers opened fire on the Chanukah event, 62-year-old Reuven Morrison was seen throwing bricks at Sajid Akram.

Despite being unarmed, Morrison charged at the alleged shooters. He died protecting his community.

His daughter Sheina Gutnick told U.S. channel CBS News: “if there was one way for him to go on this earth, it would be fighting a terrorist. There was no other way he would be taken from us. He went down fighting, protecting the people he loved most.”

Morrison emigrated from the former Soviet Union to Australia in the 1970s.

He was a businessman, philanthropist and member of Hasidic Jewish communities in Sydney and Melbourne.

In a 2024 interview with the ABC, Morrison said: “We came here with the view that Australia is the safest country in the world and the Jews would not be faced with such antisemitism in the future, where we can bring up our kids in a safe environment.”

When the shooting began, Jessica Rozen noticed a little girl screaming, and lay on top of her to shield her from the bullets.

Video published by The Guardian shows Rozen whispering “I got you” repeatedly to the girl as shots rang out. She and the child both survived the attack.

Speaking to The Guardian afterwards, she said: “We’re a community of peace, and we were just eating donuts with our kids and celebrating light. No one deserves this.”

NSW Police officers were responsible for killing one of the attackers and disabling the other.

Two officers, Constable Scott Dyson and Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, were seriously injured in the shooting. They remain in hospital.

Following multiple surgeries, Hibbert has lost sight in one eye. The 22-year-old was in the job for only four months at the time of the shooting.

Hibbert’s family said: “In the face of a violent and tragic incident, he responded with courage, instinct, and selflessness… Jack was simply doing his job - a job he deeply loves - driven by a commitment to protect the community, even at great personal cost… He now faces a long and challenging recovery ahead.”

NSW Police Legacy has set up a fundraiser to support Hibbert in his recovery.

NSW Premier Chris Minns commended the officers, saying they had acted with “bravery and integrity.”

It would be remiss of me to finish this newsletter without mentioning the countless other brave souls who we are still learning new information about.

One man, an unnamed refugee from a middle eastern country, ran onto the bridge and confronted the attackers in the middle of the shootout with police. His immigration lawyer Alison Battisson told the Australian he currently has no path to citizenship despite having an Australian wife and child

“It’s open to public opinion as to whether somebody who put himself in significant danger to help the Australian community has earned a right to stay in Australia,” she said..

Another person, who has been recognised as a man called “Gefen” is reportedly recovering in the hospital after he was shot while trying to help Ahmed disarm the shooters.

We’ve also seen an outpouring of support for the world-famous Bondi lifeguards. Many of them became first responders on that day, helping the wounded and rushing out to sea to assist those who had tried to seek shelter in the waves.

In the days to come, we can expect to hear even more stories of people who exhibited extreme bravery.

As our country continues to grapple with what has happened, many of us are still questioning what we can do to help.

If you are in a financial position to donate, the Jewish community in Bondi has set up a fundraising page for the families of the victims. They are halfway to their $5 million goal.

Almost 50,000 turned out to donate blood on Monday, which almost doubled the previous record for single-day donations. Lifeblood continues its call for blood donations to help fill the backlog of demand created by the event.

And finally, take care of yourself and make sure to hug your loved ones extra tight.