Rabbi Eli ‘was ripped away from us’

Chabad of Bondi – the Bondi Beach shule that Rabbi Eli Schlanger devoted himself to bringing to fruition – was filled to capacity with people, including NSW Premier Chris Minns, at his funeral service earlier today (December 17).

It was the first of many funeral services to be held in the week ahead to honour those killed, and already identified, in last Sunday’s terrorist attack at the Chanukah at the Sea event at Bondi Beach.

Minns described Rabbi Schlanger’s funeral as “a celebration of a man that was a gift for our city, and someone who did so much – not just for the Jewish community – but for everybody that lives in NSW.”

Corrective Services personnel formed a Guard of Honour at the end of the service, reflecting Rabbi Schlanger’s selfless community outreach work that he did, including visiting prisoners in jails, and the sick or injured in hospitals.

In a moving eulogy, Rabbi Ritchie Moss described Rabbi Schlanger as “one of the purest and most sincere and compassionate people any of us have known”.

“Eli was ripped away from us in the midst of doing what he did best, spreading Yiddishkeit – spreading love and joy, and caring for his people with endless self-sacrifice,” Rabbi Moss said.

“In his life and in his death, he towered above, as one of the highest and holiest souls.

“This loss is massive for the entire Jewish nation, but for our community here, and for Chabad of Bondi, the loss is unspeakable.”

Rabbi Moss described the father of five as a devoted husband and family man, a mentor to his colleagues and friends, and “more than just another rabbi, but a force”.

“Above all, with every fibre in his being, he was a shaliach of the Rebbe, without equal,” Rabbi Moss continued.

“The thousands of souls that Rabbi Eli touched will be forever grateful to have known him.

“Each one of us here will honour Eli by also being so much more Jewish, more proud, more loving, more attentive to our children, supportive of our friends, and involved in our community.”

Memorial prayers were recited by a host of rabbis, and Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli.

Then, fighting back tears several times while delivering a beautiful tribute, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman said it was befitting that the service was being held “in this place that you’ve given your life to . . . and to think it is only just over a year now after your dream was realised”.

Rabbi Ulman described his beloved son-in-law as “a person who lived to 41 years, and achieved what a person [often] doesn’t achieve [until] double that age.

“He was constantly thinking about new ways, motivating himself, and how to help another person.

To me, all he wanted was to take off my burden, and to do all these things in the community, and so many of the things that I became involved with, and achieve success in, I was able to do only because of him.

“And he did it all with such humility – never wanting to be in the limelight.

“Everybody just fell in love with him, with his personality, with what he represented.

“And that’s refelected in the phone calls and emails – much more than in the hundreds – that I’m getting from all around the world.

“Eli was the best husband, the best father, and the best son.

“He stood for unity, and was able to see beyond opinions and convictions, and connect to people that were [even] opposite to him on [many] levels.”

Rabbi Ulman also shared how Rabbi Schlanger, “every time a tragedy struck, was looking for ways how to not only fill the void, but how to make things greater”, and concluded that this is what he would want the community to do now.”

Rabbi Ulman added, Jews must remain open and expressive in their faith, and honour all the victims of last Sunday’s terror attack by not ceding to terror.

He said considering taking off mezuzahs or yarmulkes, or not going to Bondi Beach again, because of what happened, “is not the answer”.

“Anytime that they try something (we must) become greater and stronger.

“So, on the final night of Chanukah, we’re going to gather at Bondi Beach, and we’re going to light eight candles, to show the world that the Jewish people are unbeatable.”