‘Be More Jewish’: Chabad Emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger Killed in Sydney Chanukah Terror Attack

Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a beloved Chabad rabbi who had welcomed a new son just two months ago, was among those murdered in Sunday’s deadly terrorist attack on a Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney. He was 41.

Schlanger, the assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, was attending and helping organize the public event marking the first night of Hanukkah when two terrorists opened fire on the crowd. Twelve people were killed in the attack, and dozens more were wounded, according to Australian authorities.

More than 2,000 people had gathered for the annual “Chanukah by the Sea” celebration, a public, family-oriented event that has become one of the most prominent expressions of Jewish life in Sydney. The shooting occurred as participants gathered near the shoreline for the lighting of the menorah.

Schlanger was a key organizer of the event and a central figure in the Bondi Jewish community. In recent years, he spoke publicly about rising antisemitism in Australia and proudly noted that attendance at the Bondi Beach Chanukah celebration had doubled despite heightened security concerns.

For 18 years, since his marriage to his wife Chaya, Schlanger served as a rabbi and chaplain in the Bondi community. His in-laws, Rabbi Yehoram and Shternie Ulman, founded Chabad of Bondi decades ago. Schlanger studied at Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch and at Yeshiva Brunoy in France and worked as a Chabad emissary supporting Jewish life in Sydney.

Chabad described him as “a devoted rabbi and chaplain, working tirelessly … to support Jewish life in the Bondi community.”

Just a couple months before his murder, Schlanger published an open letter addressed to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, warning against moral indifference in the face of antisemitism. “As a Rabbi in Sydney, I implore you not to betray the Jewish people and not to betray G-d Himself,” he wrote.

“Throughout history, Jews have been torn from their land again and again by leaders who are now remembered with scorn in the pages of history,” Schlanger continued. “Today, you have the opportunity to stand on the side of truth and righteousness.”

He concluded the letter by writing, “Should you choose this path, you will be welcomed home with open arms and even a warm Shabbat meal. I congratulate you in advance for the courage to do what is right and to stand firmly against this act of heresy.”

The day before the attack, Schlanger posted a public invitation encouraging the community to attend the Chanukah celebration. Earlier in the day, he was photographed helping a young Jewish man put on tefillin.

Following the attack, Prime Minister Albanese convened an urgent meeting of the cabinet’s National Security Committee and spoke from Canberra, calling the shooting a “vile act of violence.”

“There are nights that tear at the nation’s soul. In this moment of darkness, we must be each other’s light,” Albanese said. “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.”

Last Chanukah, Schlanger responded to those asking how Jews should respond to antisemitism with a video posted on social media showing the Chabad approach in his characteristically humorous manner. With the caption “Here’s the best response to combat antisemitism,” Schlanger danced out of his home toward his car, on top of which he placed a light-up portable menorah, encouraging others to join him in spreading light in the face of hate. Speaking to Chabad.org at the time, Schlanger said the way forward was always the same: “Be more Jewish, act more Jewish and appear more Jewish.” Rabbi Eli Schlanger is survived by his wife and four children.