How a Simple Menorah Request Became a Life-Changing Moment for a Nurse

A powerful story of connection and compassion has emerged from Sydney, where a nurse's dedication to patient-centered care resulted in both a meaningful religious observance and his own unexpected spiritual milestone.

When Leibel Lazaroff expressed his desire to light a menorah during Chanukah while recovering from injuries sustained in the December 2025 Bondi Beach terrorist attack, his medical team faced a challenge. Hospital safety protocols prohibited lighting an open flame in Leibel's room, where he was connected to multiple medical devices following the antisemitic mass shooting.

A Nurse Makes It Possible

One nurse recognized the deep spiritual significance of this ritual and refused to let safety constraints become an insurmountable barrier. In a remarkable demonstration of patient advocacy, he carefully disconnected and mobilized all of Leibel's medical equipment so he could be safely transported outside the hospital to fulfill the mitzvah of lighting the menorah.

"Being that Leibel is unable to light a menorah with fire inside his hospital room, one of the incredible nurses said that he would be more than willing to facilitate Leibel to be able to light the Menorah," shared Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff, Leibel's father and a Texas-based Chabad emissary, in a social media post that has since garnered international attention.

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A post shared by Chabad at Texas A&M University (@chabadtamu)

During this meaningful moment of care, the nurse revealed something unexpected: he too was Jewish, originally from America, but hadn't participated in lighting a menorah since childhood visits with his grandparents. Even more surprisingly, he disclosed that he had never celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, the traditional coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys.

A Moment Beyond Medicine

What began as clinical care transformed into a profound human connection, as the nurse’s effort made space not only for a mitzvah, but for an impromptu Bar Mitzvah ceremony. Hospital staff and family members witnessed the ceremony complete with the traditional wrapping of tefillin (phylacteries) and menorah lighting—creating a moment of joy and spiritual significance amid the ongoing trauma of recovery.

Continued Support

Rabbi Lazaroff continues to request prayers for his son's complete recovery, referring to him by his Hebrew name, Yehuda Leib Ben Manya. "We are experiencing miracles every single day and we are grateful for all the prayers and support from people around the world," he noted in his social media post.

For those who want to support Leibel’s recovery in a tangible way, the family also has a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover medical needs and recovery-related expenses. 

Care That Matters Most

In a world where healthcare professionals face increasing demands on their time and attention, this story is a powerful reminder that some of the most meaningful nursing interventions aren't found in clinical protocols, but in acts of human connection and compassionate creativity.

🤔Nurses, how do you balance safety policies with compassionate patient-centered care? Share your thoughts in the discussion forum below!