Inspiring Jew from Today: Chaya Mushka Dadon

Chaya Mushka Dadon is 14 years old. When gunfire erupted at the Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebration, she saw two young children exposed in the open. She ran toward them, pulled them close, and shielded their bodies with hers. She was shot in the thigh while protecting them.

In interviews afterward, Chaya said she did not hesitate, she felt she had to act. She said she trusted in God, recited the Shema, and focused only on keeping the children safe. She described feeling a clear sense of purpose and direction in that moment.

Chaya refuses to call herself a hero. She speaks about responsibility, faith, and instinct. But her actions show a young Jew protecting the vulnerable, acting with courage under fire, and giving her community strength in a week of grief.

Chaya Mushka Dadon is an inspiration.  

Learn more: Reuters profile on Chaya Dadon