Two gunmen attacked Chabad-Lubavitch of Bondi’s Chanukah event on Bondi Beach, killing 15, including Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger, and injuring many others.
The “Chanukah by the Sea” event, which began at 5:30 p.m. local time, was interrupted by the sound of gunfire at approximately 6:45 p.m. Thousands of attendees fled in all directions as the terrorists fired into the crowd. One gunman was interrupted when a middle-aged man heroically charged him and wrestled the long gun from him. He rejoined his accomplice on an elevated bridge before both were shot by law enforcement, and one was neutralized.
Dec. 14 marked the first night of Chanukah, and the Australian Jewish community was ready to be one of the first places on earth to welcome the light of the menorah. The Chanukah event on Bondi Beach has become a crown jewel of the Sydney Jewish community over the decades with thousands attending the family event during what is summer there.
Among those murdered was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, who organized the event for Chabad of Bondi, where he served as assistant rabbi. Schlanger’s in-laws, Rabbi Yehoram and Shternie Ulman, founded Chabad of Bondi decades ago. Schlanger was a devoted rabbi and chaplain, working tirelessly as an emissary of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, to support Jewish life in the Bondi community.
Other victims that have been identified are Reuven Morrison, a businessman and beloved member of the Chabad community who divided his time between Melbourne and Sydney, and who is seen on the footage of the attack heroically making himself a target to allow others to flee; Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor who attended the event with his children and grandchildren as part of their annual Chanukah celebration; Tibor Weitzen, 78, Israeli grandfather and member of the Chabad community in Sydney known as the "Lollypop Man", who was identified by his first responder grandson at the scene after he was murdered while protecting others; Marika Pogany, 82:, dedicated volunteer to her Jewish community who was recognized for delivering 12,000 kosher Meals on Wheels over the course of more than two decades in 2022; Dan Elkayam, 27, a young man from France and and soccer player for the Rockdale Ilinden Football Club; Matilda, 10, identified as the youngest victim of the massacre; and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, who served as secretary of the Sydney Beth Din and worked at the BINA Center. He also served as a popular coordinator of Chabad activities in Sydney. Peter Meagher was a retired detective sergeant with the NSW Police and a member of the Randwick Rugby club, and following his retirement after 34 years of service, he embraced his passion for photography and made a career of it. He was on assignment taking photos of "Chanukah by the Sea" when he was murdered during the terrorist attack. New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park has also announced that a 12-year-old child was among those killed.
A State Emergency Services chaplain named Vlad spoke with Australian TV and shared that he was attending the event with his 8-year-old son. He pushed his child to the ground and covered him. A security guard was shot nearby and he tried to assist him. Vlad vowed to light Chanukah candles he purchased at the event at home following the massacre to “keep the show going” and to show that “we are not afraid.”
Rabbi Chaim Levy told The Times of Israel he was sitting at the event when the shooting started. “I suddenly saw smoke and heard cracks [of gunfire]. I couldn’t tell if it was into the air or at the crowd. But it was immediately clear that something [terrible] was happening. I told my wife, ‘Run!’ She grabbed our daughter. I ran with my son. I hid with my son behind a car. If you see the footage of the terrorists near a bridge, you’ll see there were cars parked there. For about 20 minutes, we heard gunfire over our heads. After about 20 minutes, I managed to jump over a fence (with my son) and get to our car, find my wife, and speed home.” Many attendees shared their stories of the traumatic day on social media, sharing how they lay over their children and babies in the sand as bullets flew around them, being terrified for other loved ones at the scene whose whereabouts they didn't know, and desperately trying to flee while the carnage unfolded around them.
Since the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel, Australian Jewry has repeatedly seen antisemitic assaults. Multiple synagogues have been burned or vandalized, Jewish homes and cars have been sprayed with antisemitic graffiti, and massive protests in major cities, including calls for the genocide of Jews and Israel’s destruction, have made it dangerous for Jewish people.
Speaking to Chabad.org earlier this year about the uptick in antisemitism in Australia, Schlanger noted with pride how attendance at the annual Chanukah at the Beach doubled in response to the anti-Jewish attacks, with the Jewish community refusing to be cowed by the hatred. He also noted that security was heightened in recent years.
Last Chanukah, Schlanger responded to those asking how should Jews respond to antisemitism with a video posted on social media showing the Chabad way in his classically humorous manner. With the caption saying “Here’s The Best Response to Combat Antisemitism,” Schlanger danced out of his home towards his car, on top of which he placed a light up portable menorah, encouraging others to join him in sharing the message of light in the face of hate.
In the face of darkness, Schlanger told Chabad.org at the time, the way forward is always the same: “Be more Jewish, act more Jewish and appear more Jewish.”
This article will be updated as additional information is confirmed.
To support the Schlanger family, click here. A campaign has also been launched to support the victims of the attack. To donate, click here.
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