2 months ago
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The British-born Schlanger danced with joy and defiance in a video he posted to X during Chanukah last year, telling his followers that it was the best way to fight antisemitism.
Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at the Bondi Jewish cultural centre, was among those killed in the Bondi Beach shooting on Sunday.Credit: Jewish News
Schlanger’s cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, told Jewish News that Schlanger’s death made no sense.
“How can a joyful rabbi, who went to a beach to spread happiness and light, to make the world a better place, have his life ended in this way?” Lewis said.
“We can only respond by doing what Eli would have wanted, what he dedicated his life to – doing more mitzvot (good deeds) and to keep spreading positive energy. To keep generating light. To keep focusing on goodness and hope, in every interaction every day.
“Let’s flood the world with goodness because, as Jews, we know, as difficult as it might seem, that light and goodwill always win.”
Schlanger was an organiser of the Chanukah by the Sea event. His death was confirmed by Chabad, a global Jewish movement whose Bondi Beach chapter hosted the event.
“For 18 years, since his marriage to wife Chaya, he has served as a rabbi and chaplain in the Bondi community,” Chabad said in an X post.
A moving video showed Rabbi Yehoram Ulman at morning prayers, talking about the attack to the community. He was the father-in-law of Schlanger. The dead are among his congregants. Reaching for tissues to dry his tears, Ulman, the head of Sydney Beth Din and Chabad Bondi, said many people wanted to “bring Jews down, destroy us, make us despondent, lose hope.”
But that is not what those who died, like Rabbi Schlanger, would’ve wanted. “We have to step up now. They’re looking to us.” Now is the time to unite, and forget petty things, he said.
Alex Kleytman
Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor and native of Ukraine, had attended the event with his wife, Chabad reported Monday morning.
“He died shielding her from the gunman’s bullets. In addition to his wife, he leaves behind two children and 11 grandchildren,” Chabad wrote on X.
Reuven Morrison
Morrison, a member of the Chabad community, was a businessman who came from the Soviet Union before he “discovered his Jewish identity in Sydney”, Chabad posted.
He divided his time between Sydney, where he conducted business, and Melbourne, where he lived with his wife and daughter, the group added.
Forty-two patients were transported or presented to several Sydney hospitals. Two of these patients have since died.
As at 8am on Monday:
- Twelve patients are in a stable condition at Prince of Wales Hospital
- One patient is in a critical condition and two are in a stable condition at St George Hospital
- One patient is in a stable condition at Sutherland Hospital
- One patient is in a critical condition at Sydney Eye Hospital
- Three patients are in a critical condition, five patients are in a stable condition, and two patients were treated and discharged at St Vincent’s Hospital
- Three patients are in a critical but stable condition, one patient is in a critical condition, one patient is in a stable condition, and one is yet to be assessed at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Sadly, one patient at this hospital has passed away
- One patient is in a critical condition and two patients are in a stable condition at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. Sadly, one patient at this hospital has passed away
- One patient is in a critical but stable condition and one is in a stable condition at Royal North Shore Hospital
- Two patients are in a stable condition at Liverpool Hospital
