Hanukkah Menorah Lighting in Brooklyn Honors Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Victim of Bondi Beach Attack

Remembrance on Final Night of Hanukkah

• 🕯️ On the final night of Hanukkah, the family of Rabbi Eli Schlanger led a menorah lighting in Brooklyn to honor his memory.
• 💔 Rabbi Schlanger, a 41-year-old father of five, was among the 15 victims of an antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

Honoring Victims in Sydney and Brooklyn

• 🇦🇺 In Sydney, thousands gathered at Bondi Beach, where Matilda, the youngest victim, was killed on the first night of Hanukkah. Her father lit a menorah to honor her life.
• 🌍 The acts of mourning and defiance extended from Sydney to Israel and Brooklyn, highlighting a global response to the tragedy.
• ✨ Rabbi Schlanger's mission was to spread goodness and kindness, a message that resonates in the face of hate.

Rising Antisemitism and Community Response

• 📈 Worldwide antisemitism is surging, with a reported 200% jump in anti-Semitic incidents in the US from 2023 to 2024.
• 🗣️ Rabbi Schlanger had advised his community to "be more Jewish" in the face of growing antisemitism in Australia.
• 🕍 In Brooklyn, Rabbi Schlanger's family gathered at a large public menorah lighting, reflecting on the difficulty of comprehending such events in modern times.

Attack Details and Inspiration

• 🗓️ The attack occurred on the first night of Hanukkah, and Rabbi Schlanger had predicted that the world would know about Hanukkah and menorah lighting the following year.
• 🚩 Australian officials stated the attackers, a father and son, were inspired by the Islamic State, with ISIS flags and firearms recovered.
• ✈️ Authorities noted the shooters had spent time in the Philippines in November, an area known as a hub for terrorist groups.
• 📢 Leaders were urged to condemn all hate and antisemitism completely.