Mitzvah House to welcome City2Surf runners and supporters

Mitzvah House – Ohel Eli & Yaakov will welcome thousands of City2Surf participants and supporters with a free kosher barbecue and the opportunity to wrap tefillin when the iconic run finishes at Bondi Beach this Sunday.

Located at Archer Park, just moments from the City2Surf finish precinct, the memorial site established after the Chanukah terror attack in December 2025 is expecting a steady stream of runners, supporters and spectators throughout the day.

The annual 14-kilometre run from Sydney’s CBD to Bondi Beach draws about 90,000 participants and is widely regarded as the world’s largest fun run. For Mitzvah House, the event presents a unique chance to extend its message of kindness and Jewish hospitality to one of Sydney’s biggest community gatherings.

Mitzvah House rabbi Noach Koncepolski said everyone was welcome to stop by.

“Whether you’ve just crossed the finish line, you’re cheering on family and friends, or you’re simply walking past, we’d love to welcome you,” Koncepolski said. “Enjoy a kosher BBQ, have a chat with our volunteers, take on a mitzvah, and if you’re Jewish, take a few moments to wrap tefillin. Sometimes a single mitzvah can leave a lasting impact.”

Koncepolski said Jewish runners from across Sydney and beyond were expected to put on tefillin after completing the race, with many doing so for the first time in years. Those spontaneous moments of reconnection have become a hallmark of the site since it opened.

Mitzvah House was established in the days following the December 14, 2025 attack at Bondi Beach, in which 15 people were killed and dozens injured on the first night of Chanukah. It is named in memory of two of the victims, Chabad emissaries Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Rabbi Yaakov Levitan.

What began as a spontaneous response to tragedy has grown into a permanent community presence on Bondi Beach. Speaking to The AJN in June, Koncepolski recalled how it all started.

“The morning after the attack, myself and two friends went to the morning Shacharit service at Chabad Bondi … and we just decided to do what we can to help. We went to the beach, propped up a table and shortly a marquee followed,” he said. “We were working for the first month, like 14 to 16 hours a day.”

In the first week alone, volunteers helped more than 1500 people a day wrap tefillin. Eight months on, Mitzvah House has welcomed more than 50,000 visitors from across the globe and distributed more than 6000 Shabbat candles, with over 50 per cent of daily visitors coming from outside the Jewish community.

The first initiative of its kind in Australia, Mitzvah House has found a permanent home at Bondi Beach with the support of local government. Visitors can wrap tefillin, collect Shabbat candles, or simply stop for a conversation with the dedicated staff and volunteers.