A senior New York rabbi has criticized Australia’s “inaction” after a mass shooting disrupted a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, injuring 40 and killing at least 15 individuals, including two prominent rabbis.
Rabbi Schmaya Krinsky from the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in New York City stated that the father-and-son perpetrators’ actions demonstrated an escalating environment of antisemitism that officials have not addressed.
“In addition to Rabbi Eli Schlanger, we have now learned that Chabad Rabbi Yaakov Levitan has died from his injuries. May his memory be a blessing as well,” Krinsky told Digital.
“Jewish communities worldwide are currently anxious yet resilient,” he said. “Each tolerated increase in antisemitic rhetoric has a direct, and now fatal, outcome, and can no longer be ignored.”
“Australian officials must act swiftly to eliminate both the actions and discourse that make antisemitism seem normal,” Krinsky added.
The devastating mass shooting on December 14 occurred when two shooters fired upon a large gathering near Campbell Parade at Bondi Beach.
The incident, which police are reportedly investigating as a terrorist act, involved improvised explosive devices discovered in one suspect’s vehicle, as previously reported.
The older attacker was killed on site, while his son was apprehended in critical condition.
Krinsky, who was present in Melbourne during a synagogue arson attack at the East Melbourne Synagogue in July, said he had personally observed the mounting “unease” in Australia.
“I personally saw the anxiety and worry experienced by many in the Australian Jewish community as antisemitic provocation increased, along with their perception that the official response was insufficient,” he said.
“At that time, there was a sense that Australia’s Jewish community had grown progressively more uncomfortable with what they perceive as an insufficiently robust reaction to these incidents.”
Schlanger, 41, among the first victims to be identified, served as assistant rabbi and helped organize the beach gathering.
“Although each Chabad center functions autonomously, they operate under our worldwide umbrella organization,” Krinsky explained. “No words can adequately convey the pain and sorrow inflicted by this devastating tragedy.”
“Rabbi Schlanger was one of the victims of this atrocity,” he added. “He had and studied here, has family here, and even though the attack happened far away, we feel his presence more than ever this Hanukkah.”
“He was younger than me, and we studied at the same educational institutions, albeit at different times,” Krinsky observed. “He devoted his life to serving communities worldwide, far from his homeland, motivated by the Rebbe’s teachings and vision.”
Schlanger, a native of the U.K., was married to Chaya, daughter of the well-known Australian Rabbi Yehoram Ulman.
“After their wedding approximately 18 years ago, they relocated to Sydney to help expand the community and animate the beauty and spirit of Jewish tradition for many in Sydney’s Jewish population,” Krinsky explained. “He would have sought out a place to live in order to pursue the work he wanted to devote his life to.”
As global reactions poured in, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese denounced the assault as an “act of pure evil,” according to reports.
“Our hearts are broken for the families who were observing the Festival of Light at Bondi Beach,” Krinsky said.
“However, every Chabad community across the globe is already doing what we do best: spreading additional light, reinforcing Jewish pride and religious observance, and multiplying acts of goodness and kindness.”
“The attacker may have sought to extinguish the Hanukkah lights in Sydney – but they will shine even more brightly throughout Australia and around the world.”
A statement issued by Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters in New York declared, “Let us be clear: this was a treacherous terrorist act – an assault on the community, on goodness, and on light itself. It reflects an environment where hatred of Jews has been permitted to fester and become violent. That reality must be faced.”
“We will honor the lives taken by enhancing , pride and visibility. May their light rise from this sorrow, and their memory be a blessing to us all,” the statement read.