‘Incredibly Difficult’: Rabbi Mendel Kastel Grieves Family Loss After Bondi Terror Attack

SYDNEY — Rabbi Mendel Kastel, whose brother-in-law was killed in Sunday’s antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach, said the past day has been emotionally overwhelming as he balances personal grief with communal responsibility.

Kastel told CBS News on Monday that he and his family were present at the Hanukkah event when the shooting occurred, leaving him directly affected by the loss while also serving as a source of support for others shaken by the violence.

Rabbi Mendel Kastel, whose brother-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger had just welcomed a newborn son before he was killed in Sunday’s antisemitic terrorist attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach, tells CBS News that the massacre was meant to extinguish the light of Hanukkah. "As we go through… pic.twitter.com/jnc2ggOX7T

— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 15, 2025

“The last 24 hours have been incredibly difficult,” Kastel said. “Losing a family member is devastating, but at the same time I have a role in helping the community through this.”

Kastel described his brother-in-law, Rabbi Yisroel Schlanger, as a deeply dedicated and widely loved figure whose work touched people from all walks of life.

“He was committed to the community,” Kastel said. “He cared about people wherever he went — visiting the sick, reaching out to prisoners, teaching bar mitzvah students, and inspiring others through his energy and positivity.”

Others injured in the attack remain hospitalized. Shalom, a 20-year-old from Miami who has been living in Bondi, said a close friend was shot while standing near Schlanger. The friend underwent surgery overnight after suffering gunshot wounds to the abdomen and leg and was listed in stable condition Monday.

Residents of Bondi gathered throughout the day to lay flowers and mourn those killed, turning the beachfront area into a site of quiet reflection.

For Kastel, the response of the community reflects the deeper meaning of Hanukkah.

“We want to shine light together,” he said. “To put our arms around one another and build a community where people feel valued, loved, and cared for — that’s what this is about.”