Widow of Bondi Hanukkah photographer reveals she is converting to Judaism in his, victims' honor

The widow of Bondi Hanukkah attack victim Peter Meagher, Virginia, is converting to Judaism after her husband, raised Catholic, discovered shortly before his death that he was Jewish.

The wife of the late Peter Meagher, the retired NSW Police detective sergeant and photographer who was murdered in the Bondi Hanukkah attack last year, has revealed she is converting to Judaism in his honor.

Peter Meagher, 61, was a well-known photographer in the Jewish community and worked as a freelance photographer for many local Chabad events, including the Hanukkah party that Sunday.

Peter was raised a "good Catholic boy," according to his wife Virginia, but found out shortly before his death that his maternal grandmother, and therefore he, was Jewish.

Speaking to News24's Sharri Markson on Wednesday, Virginia said she had been considering conversion for "quite some time," sparked actually by when she started working at a Chabad school in June 2017, just 6.5 months after the two got married.

"When I started working there, Peter's cousin said, 'You do know Peter's Jewish? His grandmother was a Cohen.' I didn't know that."

Virginia Meagher begins journey to Judaism

"But, with the events of December [2025], my contemplation from 2017 onwards was solidified, and I made the decision in February [2026] that I would start the journey to conversion," she told Markson.

"This is my way of honoring him, them [the victims]. I may not have taken his name when we got married, but what ran through his blood, his history, is undeniable, and it should be celebrated and honored."

Additionally, Virginia spoke of how her late husband's photos have actually been instrumental in helping the police to piece together the last moments of the events and who was located where.

Some of the photos were uncovered only recently, as Peter's camera was stolen in the immediate aftermath of the attack and pawned a few days later.

New South Wales Police arrested the suspect in May. The suspect had also been working as the tragic Hanukkah event’s photographer when he stole his peer’s camera.

Recovered camera offers final glimpse of Bondi victims

After recovering the camera and its data, police returned the equipment to Virginia last week.

"Having these images returned had a dual effect: firstly, the reminder that some of the people, either the subject or in the background, are no longer with us, having been murdered," she told News24.

"Secondly, that these beautiful, innocent, everyday people, enjoying the event, were the last things in front of Peter’s eyes/lens. I am very moved by the images, extremes of both grief and comfort."

Among the recovered photos are the last images of Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was shot and killed as he tried to plead with the gunman to stop shooting.

The Jerusalem Post reached out to Virginia Meagher for comment.