SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 40, a prominent Chabad-Lubavitch emissary in Australia and assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi, was among those killed Sunday evening in a mass terrorist attack that targeted a public Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The attack took place during the annual “Chanukah by the Sea” event, organized by Chabad of Bondi, where hundreds of members of the Jewish community had gathered to light the first candle of Hanukkah. Witnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as terrorists opened fire, sending families fleeing in fear along the beachfront.
New South Wales Police confirmed at least 10 fatalities, including one suspected attacker. Authorities said multiple people were wounded, though the exact number of injured remained unclear late Sunday. Two suspects were taken into custody, police said, with one reported dead and another receiving medical treatment.
BREAKING: Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a Chabad emissary, was murdered in a terror attack at Bondi Beach while celebrating Hanukkah.
Just yesterday, he posted an invitation on social media, warmly welcoming everyone to come celebrate with him. This is heartbreaking. A life of kindness… pic.twitter.com/QBf8zfAm0b
— Yossi BenYakar (@YossiBenYakar) December 14, 2025
Rabbi Schlanger, known for his tireless outreach and community-building work in the Bondi area, was leading the Hanukkah festivities when he was fatally shot, according to community sources and initial reports from Chabad officials. He was widely regarded as a devoted shliach of the Lubavitcher Rebbe who dedicated his life to strengthening Jewish life and identity in Australia.
🕯️Baruch Dayan Haemet Rabbi Eli Schlanger hy”d
Eli was the assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the event. For 18 years, since his marriage to wife Chaya, he has served as a rabbi and chaplain in the Bondi community.
הרב פייבל אליעזר בן בנימין הלוי הי”ד pic.twitter.com/HtzT38DtYn
— Chabad.org (@Chabad) December 14, 2025
Israeli leaders swiftly condemned the attack. President Isaac Herzog described it as a “very cruel attack on Jews” and urged Australian authorities to confront the rising tide of antisemitism. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said the shooting was the result of unchecked antisemitic incitement in recent years.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident “shocking and distressing,” while Jewish community leaders expressed horror that a family-oriented holiday event had been deliberately targeted.
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was among the 11 murdered at the terror attack at the public menorah lighting and Chanukah event in Australia, had this post pinned to his account.
His call was that in the face of darkness, the way forward is to “be more Jewish, act more Jewish and… https://t.co/FfLJJejJCm— Chabad.org (@Chabad) December 14, 2025
The shooting is being described as one of the deadliest attacks on a Jewish gathering outside Israel in recent years, amid growing concern over antisemitism in Australia. Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that a motive has not yet been formally announced, though Jewish organizations pointed to the timing and location of the attack as evidence of deliberate targeting.
We are shocked and devastated by the antisemitic terrorist attack during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, where at least 11 people were murdered and many wounded. We mourn the murder of @Chabad emissary Rabbi Eli Schlanger and all victims of this evil…
— ADL (@ADL) December 14, 2025
Dear Prime Minister @narendramodi
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, the Rabbi who organized the Chanukah celebration in Sydney on the Bondi beach was murdered by the terrorist/ along with twelve members of his community.
Only one week he ago, Rabbi Schlanger organized a commemoration for… pic.twitter.com/p0kfAuZLqk
— Avraham Berkowitz (@GlobalRabbi) December 14, 2025
Receiving treatment?????, a terrorist is receiving treatment they should all be killed kill every single one of them. It’s time for the end of. Ishmael
With the horrendously anti-semitic sentiment being fostered by PM Albanese and FM Wong, I won’t be surprised if the hero who overpowers the terrorist will be arrested for assault….
BDE & HYD!
I don’t ONLY blame the terrorist gunmen. The Albanese govt. greatly fostered this terrible environment where antisemitic attacks were non-existent over 3 years ago. It’s akin to someone pouring gasoline over a dry parched field and only blaming the one who lit the match.
May all Muslims perish from cancer and ALS. Free Islam from Islam. It’s a rotten religion . וינקם נקמת דם עבדו השפוך
HaShem Yinkom Damo
Yehi Zichro Baruch
Zecher Tzaddik Li-Vracha
Turn your guns in they said. We all be safe they said.
i saw how the police worked to save the terrorists and prevented anyone from hitting them.
He also has a 2 month old baby.
In response to this horific example of Jew hatred that is being allowd & fostered the world over, we must respond, with what the Rebbe edict, to repel darkness we must bring more light. The light of Torah and or true Yiddishkeit. However, at the same time we must protect ourselves and our community. We must learn to fight back, we must arm ourselves and carry everyday. We must teach the world that we are the people of Peace, but we are not going to sit by idly and allow unfettered Jew Hatred to take over our lives. We are strong, we are proud and we have HaShem. We must increase our Avodahs HaShem. We also must come to the stark realization that anti-semeitism exsists in even in the countries that welcomed us and to which we have contributed so much to make those countries better. The only safe place is Eretz HaKodesh the place HaShem gave to Klal Yisorel in perpetuity. In the meantime Springfield Armory 9mm Hellcat with a 15 round magizine is an ideal EDC (every day carry) partner. LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF.
Just going to speak from my heart.
I’ll point out that I have many hundreds of frum – non lubavitch whattsapp status friends. I must have seen many hundreds of status updates by Lubavitchers in pain over the Sydney massacre. And 3 of those hundreds of comments were from my non Lubavitcher friends (thank you dear mentshen!!).
Some times the conscience is shocked. When 4 Lakewood boys were killed r”l a few months ago in a car wreck, I posted my condolences and how shocking it is. Because it’s the right thing to do to make sure that Yidden feel that even if a massive tragedy wasn’t directly to your specific sect, Klal Yisroel is bigger than that and our conscience is shocked collectively.
So I appeal that you hear my words, and trust me that it’s coming in goodwill, and from a gentle place. Silence is a statement too, and when it’s nearly uniform, it amplifies our pain. Silence IS noticeable.
BDE!! What a terrible tragedy. May Hashem comfort the families.
We are being attacked from left and right . What do we do , anywhere we go we are always a target .
I don’t want to be fear mongering but NYC is not that different from Bondi Beach. It’s time for our community to develop clear security porotocols for all Jewish public events. First, at least one participant must be armed and well trained in the use of firearms during an emergency.
11:08 AM
You sent
I feel like the few who warned the STATE DEPARTMENT about the concentration camps and mass murder and no listened. Not enough is being done by our president who I supported and the Jewish leadership. Marches alone accomplish very little. Learn how to fight back physically, make certain there are armed guards at large Jewish events. This antisemitism and antizionism is world wide. RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
I have a son who with his wife and three babies made Aliyah. The tragedies that are occurring around the world to Jews should come as no surprise, Jews are, were and will be hated. You can read all the books dealing with the subject of Jew hatred and the question is the same. Why us? I read the thousands of condolences on Facebook regarding Australian Jews murdered and wounded. Their families and close friends will suffer greatly while we all wait for the next antisemitic incident. We need to completely demolish the enemy, Hamas, Muslim BROTHERHOOD. CAIR NEO-NAZIS, SKIN HEADS ETC. ZACHOR ET AMALEK, NO MERCY. Trump wipe out GAZA unless the one dead hostage is returned. RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
Stay tuned, coming to a city near you sooner than you think
Horrific tragedy in Australia “the Happy Country”… where antisemitism flourishes in the Islamic AND Anglo community. Very sad. We are in anguish… But we will persevere!
HY”D. Oh G-d, shake up the wicked Mohammedans.
It’s the Jewish community of Australia who is to blame for the bondi beach massacre because they didn’t hire a capable private security force to protect them knowing full well that their government tolarated antisemitism and was reluctant to protect them.