Rabbi Eli Schlanger Killed at Bondi Chanukah Event

In Sydney, Australia, Rabbi Eli Schlanger was fatally shot while organizing a Chanukah candle-lighting ceremony on Bondi Beach. The December 14th event, a long-standing tradition for his Chabad synagogue, drew families to the beach despite concerns about antisemitism. Witnesses report two gunmen opened fire around 6:41 p.m., killing Rabbi Schlanger and at least fifteen others.

The shooting also injured roughly forty people, including Rabbi Schlanger’s two-month-old baby who sustained a leg wound and his wife, Chaya, who suffered injuries to her back. The author, a member of Rabbi Schlanger’s congregation, learned of the shooting through a group text and quickly feared the worst, recalling his consistent advocacy for openly practicing Judaism even in the face of potential danger.

While the community mourns the loss of the 41-year-old rabbi, his friends and family remember his dedication to spreading joy and light. The full extent of the impact on his family—including his five children—remains profoundly heartbreaking, and the motivations behind the attack are still under investigation.