Bondi Beach hero Ahmed Al-Ahmed honored at NYC for Chabad gala

Bondi Beach hero Ahmed Al-Ahmed was honored at a New York City Chabad gala on Wednesday night, where he downplayed his selflessness, saying he was simply fulfilling his “duty as a human being” last month when he tackled one of the armed terrorists who opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration in Australia.

“I do my duty. I’m helping and saving … It felt like my duty as a human being. Helping, keeping people safe,” Al-Ahmed told The Post at an annual gala in Midtown Manhattan hosted by the Colel Chabad, the oldest operating charity in Israel.

The Syrian refugee, 43, was shot five times when a father-son terrorist duo opened fire at a Bondi Beach event marking the first night of Hanukkah. The gunmen killed at least 15 and wounded 40 others.

“I’m looking at the world from the side of peace,” Al-Ahmed said of how his perspective has changed since the horrific Dec. 14 attack.

Al-Ahmed also expressed feeling “very proud” when people call him a hero for sneaking behind the shotgun-wielding gunman and wrestling the weapon away before pointing it at the terrorist.

The brave shopkeeper, who wore a yarmulke and had his arm still in a sling, said he lost some ability to use his fingers from the gunshot wounds and is hoping for a speedy recovery.

“Honestly, there’s a pain. You know, my fingers stopped. They’re not working, but it’ll be all right … I need time, you know, one, two months, that’s what the doctor say,” Al-Ahmed continued.

“Hopefully everything will be good,” he added.

Al-Ahmed was met by a standing ovation at the gala as he was brought to the stage by Rabbi Yehoram Ulman of the Chabad of Bondi, the father-in-law of Bondi Beach victim Rabbi Eli Schlanger.

“Three weeks ago, we were struck by evil. It was the eve of Hanukkah, a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
We were preparing to light the menorah when two terrorists, father and son, opened fire on our gathering,” Ulman told the crowd.

“15 precious souls were stolen from us — men, women, and a 10-year-old child. The people are very, very close to my family, and of course, one of them was my beloved son-in-law,” he continued.

“There is pain. Deep pain. Each life lost is an entire world taken from us. But I’m also here to tell you, the darkness will not win, will not lessen our holy work, even a moment.”

Al-Ahmed flew out to the Big Apple on Tuesday to spend time with Jewish leaders, visiting the Ohel Chabad Lubavitch in Queens to see the gravesite of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Chabad announced.

Attendees of the gala — some who also lost loved ones in the massacre — expressed immense gratitude toward the Al-Ahmed.

“I came from San Diego to this event. I needed to support my community. I’m very close to Rabbi Ulman. I lost two friends that day,”

“When I met him [Al-Ahmed], I gave him a big hug. He’s a big hero for me. I said ‘thank you. You saved many people.’ I’m pretty sure God will give him good love,” Talia Kastiel-Katz told The Post.