- Ya’akov Tetleroyd nearly lost his arm after being shot
- His father was killed in the attack
- He’s been inspired after forming an unlikely friendship
A survivor of the Bondi Beach terror attack says he has offered his ‘absolute’ forgiveness to the alleged gunman after forming a friendship with a father who forgave the drink-driver responsible for killing his three children.
Ya’akov Tetleroyd nearly lost his left arm after he was shot in the elbow at the Hannukah by the Sea event on December 14.
Tragically, his 68-year-old father Boris lost his life in the attack.
Ya’akov described his decision to forgive the gunmen as ‘a selfish thing’ that helps him move on with his life.
‘It’s more about me than it is about the terrorists,’ Ya’akov told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday.
‘It’s about letting go of anger, rage and resentment. What benefit is there to myself or anybody else if I carry their guilt around with me?
‘It may do something for them, but it does everything for me.’
When asked by Fordham if he had forgiven the father-and-son gunmen, Ya’akov replied: ‘Absolutely. Yeah, yeah I have, with a full heart.’
Ya’akov Tetleroyd and his father Boris were both shot while attending the Hannukah by the Sea event on December 14 – tragically Boris lost his life
A bullet shattered Ya’akov’s elbow joint, prompting an emergency operation to save his arm (Pictured in hospital with NSW Premier Chris Minns)
During the emotional interview, Ya’akov spoke of the moment he learned his father had been killed in the attack.
The duo were speaking to different people at the event when the gunshots began.
‘My father was shot about five minutes after I was,’ he said.
‘I wasn’t aware until about three days later that he’d been murdered. I was in an induced coma for about two days and when I came out of the coma, I asked my mum what happened.
‘Dad was a decent human being and a proud Jew and he was the light of my life, a gentle and soft man. I miss him very dearly.’
Ya’akov was joined in the 2GB studio by Sydney father Danny Abdallah, who lost his three children and niece in 2020 when a drunk and high driver crashed into them.
Mr Abdallah and his wife Leila made headlines around the world after publicly forgiving the driver.
‘In this difficult time I found a friend in Danny,’ Ya’akov said.
Ya’akov’s formed an unlikely friendship with Danny Abdallah who lost his three children, Antony (left) and two daughters Angelina and Sienna in 2020
He added: ‘And we just got talking, he’s a wonderful person. We have lots in common.’
Mr Abdallah said Ya’akov’s decision to forgive the gunmen was for the ‘greater good’ of himself and his family.
‘Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling. If we had to follow our feelings, then I’d never forgive, I’d be a mess… I did it to protect my family,’ he added.