Bondi Beach victim learned he was Jewish minutes before he was murdered

Peter “Marzo” Meagher was shot at a Chanukah celebration after donning tefillin.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

The only victim initially believed to be an “outsider” among the 15 people murdered at a Chanukah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia, discovered just minutes before his death that he was Jewish, Chabad news portal COLlive reported Thursday.

Peter “Marzo” Meagher, a retired police officer who later became a freelance photographer, was taking photos at the outdoor celebration when he was approached by Shalom Druin.

Druin, along with a group of young Chabad hasidim, was offering men the opportunity to don tefillin and recite a short prayer as an expression of Jewish identity.

As is customary at tefillin stands worldwide, Druin asked Meagher whether he was Jewish. Meagher replied that he was not — but mentioned that his grandmother had been.

When Druin asked whether that grandmother was on his mother’s or father’s side, Meagher answered that she was his mother’s mother.

The hasid then informed him, “Well then, you’re Jewish — you’re 100% Jewish,” as matrilineal descent is the sole criteria for being a Jew by birth.

Meagher told Druin he had put on tefillin once before in his life, despite not knowing that he was Jewish.

After some encouragement, he agreed to don the phylacteries again, wrapping the straps around his arm and head.

About 10 minutes later, ISIS-affiliated terrorists Sajid and Naveed Akram — a father-and-son pair — opened fire on the crowd with rifles and shotguns, killing 15 people and wounding some 40 others, several critically.

As Meagher lay mortally wounded, a Jewish woman, Chana Michla Deitz, lay nearby with her daughter, hiding from the gunmen.

Without knowing Meagher’s background, Deitz told reporter Chavi Israe that, she “felt the need” to recite the Shema — Judaism’s central declaration of faith — on his behalf.

A survivor of the attack who knew Meagher from previous Jewish community events described him as “always with his camera, always helping — even printing magnets for people. He was such a kind and lovable soul.”

Meagher had served 35 years in the New South Wales police force, retiring with the rank of detective sergeant.

His family described him as “a cherished brother, husband and uncle whose kindness, generosity and love touched everyone who knew him,” noting the “tragic irony” that after facing danger throughout his career, he was “struck down in retirement while pursuing his passion for photography.”