Hours after Rabbi Eli Schlanger was murdered in a massacre in Sydney, a letter he had recently sent to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been revealed. In it, the rabbi made an impassioned plea regarding Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state and rising antisemitism in the country.
"As a rabbi in Sydney, I implore you not to betray the Jewish people and not God Himself," Rabbi Schlanger wrote. "This land was given by God to Abraham, then to his son Isaac, and then to Jacob, to be the eternal homeland of the Jewish people. Throughout history, Jews have been torn from their land again and again by leaders who are now remembered with contempt in the pages of history."
The rabbi wrote the letter following Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state and amid rising antisemitism in the country. "Today, you have an opportunity to stand on the side of truth and justice," he continued. "By reversing this act of betrayal, you will not only honor the Jewish people and our heritage, but also stand with the word of God. If you choose this path, you will be welcomed home with open arms and even a warm Shabbat meal. I bless you in advance for having the courage to do what is right and to stand firm against this act of apostasy. In hope and prayer, Rabbi Eli Schlanger."
Rabbi Eliyahu Schlanger, a Chabad emissary (שליח – a rabbi sent to serve Jewish communities worldwide) in Sydney, had recently celebrated the birth of his son. He had been responsible for a commemoration project for those killed in the Meron disaster and organized a memorial evening for emissaries murdered in recent years, including the Holtzberg couple from Mumbai and Rabbi Kogan from Dubai. According to Chabad, he did much to commemorate the victims of the October 7 massacre, and the security of the Jewish people was foremost on his mind. "The bullets of the vile murderers reached him at an event he organized for thousands of Jews – but no bullet can reach the enormous light he spread. He was an angel who took to heart the loss of Jews everywhere."
Shimmy Segal, Chabad spokesman, said, "This is a very difficult day. I knew Rabbi Eli, a very dear man who just weeks ago celebrated his son's brit milah (Jewish circumcision ceremony). This is a difficult situation to digest. This tragic and unexpected event occurred on the first day of Hanukkah (the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights) at a massive Chabad event, to our understanding, attended by more than 2,000 people. Eli, whom I knew personally, was one of the central emissaries in Sydney and the organizer of this event."
Segal added, "It's very difficult to speak about Eli in the past tense. He was a living man, full of energy, who led the community and was a good friend. He was a guy with a constant smile, an accessible person you could always turn to, and a father to a wonderful family. His character was revealed in full force when he visited Israel just days after October 7. He came on his own initiative to strengthen others, which speaks to a person who thinks only about how he can help others. Eli used to say a phrase that now takes on a chilling meaning: 'The whole world comes to darken – we come to illuminate.'"
