A rabbi and father of five has been confirmed among the 15 people killed in a terror attack that erupted during a Hanukkah celebration at Australia’s Bondi Beach in Sydney.
Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, was among the hundreds attending a “Hanukkah by the Sea” event when two gunmen opened fire on the crowd on Sunday, Dec. 14, at around 6:40 p.m. local time, according to The Australian and the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC).
Schlanger, who was born in Britain, had welcomed his fifth child — a baby boy — just six weeks earlier, The Australian reported.
His cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, confirmed the news in a Facebook 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,” he added.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Schlanger’s brother-in-law, Mendel Kastel, described him as “a wonderful man” and “a wonderful community person.”
“He had a positive effect on so many people and was a true leader,” Kastel said, adding that Schlanger served as a prison chaplain. “He will be so missed.”
Authorities said at least 15 people were killed in the attack, including one child, NBC News reported. Another 40 people were hospitalized, according to the outlet.
Police said the incident involved two shooters — a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son. The older man was shot and killed by police at the scene, while the younger man sustained critical injuries and has since been hospitalized, according to NBC News and the BBC.
Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman was also confirmed among the victims. Kleytman was shot while shielding his wife of 50 years, Larisa Kleytman, during the attack.
“I think he was shot because he raised himself up to protect me,” she told the Daily Mail.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack during a press conference shared on X the morning of Monday, Dec. 15, local time.
“Yesterday was a dark day in our nation’s history. But we are stronger than the cowards who did this,” he said. “We refuse to let them divide us. Australia will never submit to division, violence or hatred — and we will come through this together.”
Bondi Beach is one of Australia’s most well-known vacation and tourist destinations.
