Sydney's Jewish Community Mourns 'Bondi Rabbi' Amid Grief and Fears of Rising Antisemitism

Sydney's Jewish community gathered at the Chabad of Bondi Synagogue on Wednesday to bid farewell to Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a 41-year-old father of five who was tragically gunned down on Bondi Beach. The mass shooting is Australia's worst in decades, leaving the community reeling with grief and fear. As the hearse carrying Rabbi Schlanger's coffin, adorned with a black velvet cloth bearing the Star of David, arrived at the synagogue, mourners broke down in tears. The Chief Rabbi of Australia, Yehoram Ulman, choked back tears as he paid tribute to his son-in-law, calling him 'my son, my friend and confidant.' The funeral was attended by a heavy security presence, with police lining the street outside and saluting the family as they left the synagogue. The community is expected to hold 14 more funerals in the coming days for the victims of the massacre. The attack has sparked concerns about rising antisemitism in Australia, with some community members feeling that their warnings were not taken seriously enough. Data analyst Brett Ackerman said, 'This attack was not a surprise. We could have been listened to.' Rabbi Yossi Friedman agreed, stating, 'The writing has been on the wall for over two years.' He added, 'Do we feel safe? Honestly, the answer is 'not really.' The community is shaken, and the funeral of 39-year-old Rabbi Yaakov Levitan will be held in a city synagogue later in the day. The mass shooting has left a devastating impact on the Jewish community in Sydney, and its effects will be felt for a long time to come.