Bochurim Arrive in Sydney to Strengthen Bondi Community

By COLlive reporter

In the aftermath of the devastating terror attack at Bondi Beach, which claimed innocent lives and left the Jewish community deeply shaken, Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch has dispatched a special group of shluchim to Chabad of Bondi to strengthen and uplift the community during this painful period.

Among the casualties of the attack were Rabbi Eli Schlanger HY”D, beloved shliach who served under his father-in-law, Rabbi Yehoram Ulman for nearly two decades, and Shliach Rabbi Yaakov Levitan HY”D, an integral pillar of Chabad of Bondi’s day-to-day operations. In addition, Bochur Shliach for the year, Leibel Lazaroff sustained severe injuries, which prevented a return to his dedicated Shlichus for the time being.

This initiative echoes a well-known moment in Chabad history. In 1956, after the terror attack that claimed 6 lives at the vocational school in Kfar Chabad, the Lubavitcher Rebbe dispatched a group of senior bochurim from New York to the shaken village. Their mission was to reinforce morale, inspire renewed commitment, and ensure that Jewish life would continue to flourish despite the loss.

The idea to send the bochurim came about during the visit to Sydney of Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Director of the Merkos Shlichus Office, in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, when he arrived to pay a Shiva visit to the families of the victims. While spending time with the local community, Rabbi Kotlarsky committed to sponsoring a group of Bochurim to travel to provide hands-on assistance across all areas of community life, bringing much-needed chizuk during this profoundly painful time.

The amazing group of dedicated and willing shluchim includes Zalmy Hirsch, Mendel Kramer, Eli Salek, Sruli Schapiro, Sholom Ber Liberow, and Aaron Zev Moshel.

Throughout their stay, the shluchim will be actively involved in Chabad of Bondi’s full range of programming, including shiurim, Monday Night Kollel, mivtzoim, minyonim, and personal visits to members of the community. They are assisting with Jewish needs such as tefillin, mezuzos, and guidance, while also supporting CKids, CTeen, and Chabad Young Professionals programs.

Their first day began at the newly established Chabad Bondi Mivtzoim Hub at Bondi Beach, where dozens of Jewish men were given the opportunity to lay tefillin. From there, the group convened to strategically assess the urgent spiritual and emotional needs of the community and to plan the next steps for strengthening Jewish life in the area.

That evening, the shluchim joined Shliach Rabbi Mendy Ulman for Yeshiva Night, where they helped establish chavrusas and delivered a shiur on the significance of Asara B’Teves, offering timely words of reflection, resilience, and hope.

Already, the presence of the Merkos shluchim has infused the community with warmth, love, and renewed strength, serving as a powerful reminder that the global Chabad family stands united with Chabad of Bondi—sharing in their pain and committed to helping them rebuild with faith, courage, and light.