Ep 16: Bondi Attack: A Mother’s Body, a Survivor’s Mind with Chavi Block-Israel

In this episode of The Actual, we speak with Chavi Block-Israel, an educator, writer, and founder of The Empowered Jew, about surviving the Bondi terror attack whilst shielding her infant son with her body. Chavi takes us inside the moments during and after the attack, how her mind narrowed under threat, how instinct took over, and how motherhood was central to her experience. We explored the psychological protections that emerge in the terror, the lasting impact of collective trauma, and why silence is no longer possible in the face of rising antisemitism and violence.

Original music in this episode: “Kama At Yafa (כמה את יפה),” performed by CHUTNEY, from the album Ajar (2024). Courtesy of CHUTNEY/Ben Adler.