A famed Australian rabbi who was killed in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack just months after welcoming his newborn son was laid to rest at a tear-jerking funeral service on Tuesday.
Large crowds of mourners gathered to honor Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, at a packed service at the Chabad of Bondi, where he served as an assistant rabbi.
Schlanger was one of the 2,000 people in attendance at the event on Bondi Beach to mark the first night of Hanukkah on Sunday, when a father and son terrorist duo opened fire on the crowd — killing at least 15 people and wounding 40 others.
Large crowds of mourners gathered to honor Rabbi Eli Schlanger, 41, at a packed funeral service at the Chabad of Bondi on Tuesday afternoon. Facebook/Eli Schlanger
A fellow rabbi described Schlanger’s death as “massive for the entire Jewish nation.” AFP via Getty Images“Over the last three days [we wished] that we would wake up and somehow realize that this was all a terrible dream. We can’t wish that anymore. We are here raw and devastated,” a fellow rabbi told the crowd.
“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,” the rabbi continued.
The father of five was remembered as “one of the purest and most compassionate people. An outstandingly devoted husband, an exemplary loving father,” he said.
“This loss is massive for the entire Jewish nation, but for our community here, the loss is unspeakable.”
Schlanger had welcomed his fifth child, a baby boy, only a few months ago, according to an Oct. 12 post on Facebook.
Schlanger was killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack just months after welcoming his newborn son. AP
The grandfather of murder victim 10-year-old Matilda sits at the Chabad of Bondi Synagogue before the funeral of Rabbi Eli Schlanger following a shooting at Bondi Beach via REUTERSHis father-in-law, Rabbi Ulman, broke down into sobs while addressing the crowd.
“It is unthinkable that we talk about you in the past tense,” Ulman said, choking on tears. “And it’s unthinkable for me to have something … and not to come to him and say ‘Eli, what do you think about this or that.”
At one point in the speech, members of the crowd began to cry out in sobs alongside Ulman.
People hug as they arrive for the funeral of rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed in the December 14 Bondi beach shooting. AFP via Getty Images“To think how I will go a day without you… that doesn’t seem possible,” he continued.
Ulman said he had gotten “much, much more” than hundreds of phone calls about Schlanger’s impact.
The beloved rabbi dedicated much of his time to visiting and offering spiritual guidance to people in prisons and hospitals, his father-in-law described.
The Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley were all in attendance at the funeral, according to News.com.au.
There was a “heavy police presence” at Schlanger’s funeral, with dozens of police officers present and several nearby streets closed off, the Australian Broadcast Center reported.
Among the other victims of the horrific terror attack are a 10-year-old girl and an elderly Holocaust survivor.
One of the suspects has been identified as Naveed Akram, 24, who is in critical condition after being hit by police. The other terrorist Sajid, 50, was killed.
