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Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a respected leader in Sydney’s Jewish community and father of five, was among the victims of the Bondi Beach attack. Earlier this year, he publicly confronted the Prime Minister, urging him to retract Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state.

Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a senior Jewish leader who publicly urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to retract Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state, was among those killed in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

The British-born rabbi and head of the Chabad mission in Bondi was one of 15 people murdered when gunmen opened fire on crowds attending the annual Chanukah by the Sea event on Sunday afternoon.

Rabbi Schlanger, 41, was a father of five whose youngest son was born just six weeks ago, and a long-standing presence in Sydney’s Jewish community, where he served faithfully for 18 years.

In a public Facebook post in September, Rabbi Schlanger directly appealed to the Prime Minister to reverse Australia’s pledge to recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations, warning the decision was a betrayal of both the Jewish people and God.

Police have now formally identified five victims of Sunday’s attack, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Dan Elkayam, Alexander Kleytman, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan and Reuven Morrison.

Rabbi Schlanger’s first cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, announced his death in an online post.

“My dear cousin, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was murdered in today’s terrorist attack in Sydney,” he wrote. “He leaves behind his wife and young children, as well as my uncle and aunt and siblings. He was truly an incredible guy.”

Rabbi Schlanger was one of the organisers of Chanukah by the Sea, the event targeted in the attack, which has grown significantly in recent years amid rising antisemitism.

A Public Plea to the Prime Minister

Just months before his death, Rabbi Eli Schlanger publicly confronted the Federal Government over its foreign policy direction, issuing a direct appeal to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, writing:

Dear Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,

As a Rabbi in Sydney, I implore you not to betray the Jewish people and not to betray G-d Himself.

This land was given by G-d to Abraham, then to his son Isaac, and then to Jacob, to be the eternal homeland of the Jewish people.

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.

Today, you have the opportunity to stand on the side of truth and righteousness. By rescinding this act of betrayal, you will not only honour the Jewish people and our heritage but also align yourself with the word of G-d.

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.

With hope and prayer,

Rabbi Eli Schlanger

Sydney, Australia

The post was circulated widely within Jewish and pro-Israel circles and was later referenced by advocacy groups following the Bondi attack.

Government Stance Under Renewed Scrutiny

The Albanese Government announced on 11 August that Australia would recognise a Palestinian state at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In its official media statement, the Government cited commitments from the Palestinian Authority to reform governance, demilitarise and recognise Israel’s right to exist.

The statement also accused the Netanyahu Government of undermining a two-state solution through settlement expansion and actions in Gaza, asserting that Israel has legal and ethical obligations to protect civilians.

That language has drawn sustained criticism from Jewish leaders and conservative commentators, who argue it fails to adequately account for Hamas terrorism and emboldens extremist narratives already present within Australia.

Rabbi Schlanger’s death has now placed that debate in stark relief.

Bondi, long a centre of Jewish life in Sydney, has faced heightened security concerns since the October 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel, with community leaders warning that international tensions can have deadly local consequences.

Earlier this year, Rabbi Schlanger himself told Chabad.org that security at Chabad of Bondi had been significantly increased, with local police visiting the synagogue three times a day and maintaining a visible presence at Jewish sites across the area.

He noted that despite these measures, attendance at Chanukah on the Beach and other Chabad of Bondi events had continued to rise, reflecting the community’s commitment to openly express Jewish identity and resilience in the face of growing antisemitism.

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Image courtesy of X.