Eli Schlanger: Murdered Rabbi remembered as a ‘loving’ father, friend in first funeral for Bondi victims

Murdered Rabbi Eli Schlanger has been remembered as a “loving” father, friend and mentor in a touching farewell which marked the first funeral for victims of the Bondi terror attack.

The 41-year-old father of five had been a key organiser of the Chanukah by the Sea event which was targeted by a father-son duo inspired by Islamic State ideology.

The gunmen murdered 15 people — including a 10-year-old girl and a Holocaust survivor. It came after a 300 per cent rise in anti-Semitism incidents since October 7 Hamas terror attack.

The Rabbi’s father-in-law Rabbi Yehoram Ulman delivered an emotional tribute during a service inside his local synagogue Chabad of Bondi, saying he had become “a son to us”.

“Your dedication to me… I could rely on you for everything. You’re my son, my friend, my confidant. Eli was the best father, the best husband, the best son,” he said.

Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan will be buried shortly after services on Wednesday.

It comes as the flower memorial at the Bondi Pavilion continued to grow on Wednesday and crowds continue to pay their respects.

The parents of 10-year-old victim Matilda, who was the youngest victim killed at the Hanukkah celebrations, had spoken on Tuesday evening at the site during a vigil.

Valentyna and Michael, whose surnames have been withheld on family request, had moved to Australia as Ukraine immigrants.

Holding a framed picture of his daughter, Micheal addressed the crowd calling for Australia to “remember her” and spoke of the “beautiful person” she was. “

“Her name was Matilda because she was our first Australian,” he said, holding a framed picture of his daughter.

“We came here from Ukraine … and I thought that Matilda is the most Australian name that can ever exist. So just remember the name, remember her.”

Jewish leaders had made an impassioned call for unity on Tuesday, and called for Australia to do more to protect Jewish Australians from rising anti-Semitism.

Sydneysider Ricky Studencki described Rabbi Schlanger as a “friend, mentor and brother” who was inclusive and “welcomed people with open arms”.

Mr Studencki, who is a Sky News Digital Producer, spoke of his sadness upon hearing of the attack and loss of his friend.

“I was really sad, because he’s a man that was so good, so lovely, and it was a loss to humanity,” he said.

“He was a friend of mine and also a brother, and mentor to me.”

Mr Studencki said he was disappointed by the lack of action to stop rising anti-Semitism in Australia after the October 7 attack.

“There’s been a normalisation of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rhetoric, and that’s been like a really big problem.

“Now, it has reached the point where you have one of the biggest terrorist attacks in this country and one of the biggest massacres since Port Arthur.”

“Australia is a democracy and people have the right to express an opinion but it must not be inciteful to violence and that’s my concern with the anti-Israel critics, it is very difficult to isolate legitimate criticism from outright hate.”

Australia’s opposition leader Sussan Ley was spotted among attendees at the Chabad of Bondi for Rabbi Eli Schlanger’s funeral, as was former prime minister Scott Morrison and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was not in attendance but had said earlier on Wednesday, he said he would only attend funerals of victims if invited.

Other victims who have been named include Boris and Sofia Gurman, Alexander Kleytman, Peter Meagher, Dan Elkayam, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Reuven Morrison, Tibor Weitzen and Marika Pogany.