UPDATE: In a tragic turn of events, beloved Rabbi Eli Schlanger was shot and killed during a terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on the evening of October 2023. The shooting, which left 16 victims, has sent shockwaves through Sydney’s Jewish community and beyond, as families grapple with the devastating aftermath.
Just weeks before his untimely death, Rabbi Schlanger, aged 41, penned an impassioned letter to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, urging him to combat rising antisemitism in Australia. The content of this letter now serves as a haunting reminder of the violence that unfolded. Rabbi Schlanger implored the Prime Minister, stating, “As a rabbi in Sydney, I beg you not to betray the Jewish people and not God himself.” His words resonate painfully as the community mourns.
The attack occurred during the “Chanukah by the Sea” event, intended to be a joyous gathering to celebrate light and community. Witnesses described a peaceful summer evening shattered by gunfire. One bystander, lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky, who was grazed by a bullet, recounted the scene as “pure evil, just an absolute bloodbath. Bodies strewn everywhere.”
Rabbi Schlanger’s tragic loss is further compounded by the fact that he leaves behind a newborn son, born just months ago. His wife and five children are now left to navigate a future without their devoted father. Known for his central role in Jewish life in Bondi, Rabbi Schlanger dedicated 18 years to outreach, education, and community-building as an emissary of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.
The violence is being condemned worldwide, with Prime Minister Albanese labeling it an “act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism, that has struck the heart of our nation.” However, for the families affected, including Rabbi Schlanger’s, such declarations come too late, as the devastating toll has already been inflicted.
The attack marks one of the deadliest incidents in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, raising urgent questions about security and the rising tide of hatred that led to this tragedy. Authorities are now under pressure to ensure the safety of vulnerable communities as they mourn their losses.
As the community rallies in support of the Schlanger family and the other victims, discussions on how to combat antisemitism and enhance security measures are intensifying. What happens next could shape the future of community safety and interfaith relations in Australia.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation continues to develop.
