The body of habochur Eliyahu Abba Shaul Z”L, a 20-year-old resident of Bnei Brak, was released on Sunday from the forensic institute and will was be brought to burial tonight.
Eliyahu Abba tragically drowned in the Yarkon River, and his body was recovered earlier on Sunday.
Following intensive efforts, his release was secured through the intervention of Rabbi Asher Landau, rav of the forensic institute; strategic advisor Eliyahu Arend; ZAKA Tel Aviv CEO Tzvi Chasid; and operations officer Yechiel Goldman.
The levayah was held tonight, departing from his parents’ home at 40 Yehuda HaNasi Street in Bnei Brak. From there, the procession continued to the Sanhedria Cemetery in Yerushaklayim, where he was laid to rest near the kever of his grandfather, the author of Or L’Tzion.
Eliyahu Abba Shaul was born in Bnei Brak on 27 Av 5766. He was the son of Rav Yehoshua Abba Shaul, rav of the Or Eliyahu community in Bnei Brak, and the grandson of Rav Eliyahu Abba Shaul. He was also a great-grandson of Chacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul, author of Or L’Tzion, and of Rav Yehuda Mualem, Rosh Yeshivah of Porat Yosef.
His mother, Leah, is a daughter of Rav Shlomo Attiya and a granddaughter of Rav Yaakov Attiya, founder of the Yeshuos Yaakov institutions in Bat Yam and rav of the Lebanese Jewish community there.
In his youth, Eliyahu studied at Talmud Torah Noam HaTorah on Rechov Rav Landau in Bnei Brak, and later at the yeshivah ketanah Shaarei Torah, headed by Rav Chaim Yisrael Shapira. He subsequently continued his learning at a yeshivah in Moshav Tifrach, where he distinguished himself in his studies.
He was described by those who knew him as a pure and righteous bochur, deeply immersed in the daled amos of halachah. He loved walking and spending time alone in contemplation, often visiting Park HaYarkon. Tragically, it was there that he drowned, and he was niftar while many searched for him over several days.
Yehi zichro baruch. Tehei nishmaso tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.
{Matzav.com}
A wave of shock and grief swept through the city of Charish on Sunday night, the first night of Chanukah, with the tragic passing of Nechemia (Chemi) Erlanger z”l, a devoted United Hatzalah volunteer and well-known community figure. Chemi, 34, was killed in a devastating traffic accident, leaving behind his wife and five young orphaned children.
The fatal accident occurred at the entrance to Charish from the direction of Mitzpe Ilan. Chemi was riding his motorcycle when a vehicle reportedly crossed several lanes and struck him head-on. Despite prolonged and determined resuscitation efforts at the scene, emergency responders were forced to pronounce his death.
Chemi was born in Yerushalayimon the 13th of Shevat, 5751, to his father, Rabbi Shalom Meir Erlanger, and his mother. He later settled in Charish, where he earned his livelihood as the owner of an interior doors company.
Chemi joined United Hatzalah in 2012 following a traumatic incident that profoundly impacted him. After witnessing a neighbor wait more than half an hour for an ambulance, only to pass away before help arrived, Chemi resolved to become part of an organization that could provide rapid, lifesaving response.
Over the years, he rose to serve as head of transportation for the United Hatzalah Charish branch. In that role, he was responsible for all two-wheeled and four-wheeled emergency vehicles, including ambulances, rapid-response cars, motorcycles, and bicycles, as well as for ensuring the safety of responders while en route to emergency calls. The Charish branch today includes approximately 100 volunteers, an unusually large number relative to the city’s size.
Beyond his formal responsibilities, Chemi was widely known as a man of extraordinary kindness. When responding to emergency calls, if he noticed that a family was struggling financially, he would quietly work to secure donations and assistance for them.
In a past interview with the Charish City news site, Chemi explained his broader view of emergency service: “Our role is not only to save lives, but also to ‘save what’s around’ — to look at the family’s situation, their children, their socio-economic condition, and to provide help beyond the direct medical treatment.”
United Hatzalah issued a statement mourning the tragic loss of one of the pillars of its lifesaving network in the region, praising Chemi’s boundless dedication and his readiness to be the first to respond to any call for help or chesed.
Eli Beer, president and founder of United Hatzalah, delivered a moving eulogy, saying: “An unimaginable tragedy. Our hearts are broken. Today we lost a true hero — a volunteer who always gave far beyond what was required and dedicated his life, time, and energy to saving lives. Chemi z”l was killed while riding his emergency motorcycle on his way from the base where he served to a Chanukah celebration with his family. We embrace his dear family and send our deepest condolences to all 8,000 United Hatzalah volunteers during these incredibly difficult moments. His memory and his life’s work will accompany us always.”
Chemi is survived by his wife and five children.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
At a White House holiday reception today, President Donald Trump addressed the terror attack against the Jewish community in Sydney, Australia, describing it in blunt terms and leaving no doubt about its nature. “That was an antisemitic attack, obviously,” he said.
During the same appearance, Trump praised the civilian who intervened during the assault, expressing admiration for his actions. He said he had “great respect” for the man who tackled one of the attackers, calling him a “a very, very brave person.”
Earlier in the day, Trump spoke with Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy, who asked whether Americans lighting Chanukah candles should be concerned about their personal safety in the wake of the attack abroad.
Relaying the president’s response, Doocy said, “Straight from the president, his message to people celebrating Hanukkah today, he said, ‘they do not need to be worried. They should celebrate proudly, and they should be proud of who you are, celebrate proudly.’”
Trump reinforced that message later at the White House event, tying it directly to the violence in Australia. “We’re here to celebrate X-mas and … I think today, we can first say, loudly, we celebrate Hanukkah because that was such a horrible attack, that was a purely antisemitic attack,” he said.
{Matzav.com}
[Full video below.] A maamad hadlakas ner Chanukah for the lighting of the first ner was held Sunday evening at the Kosel HaMaaravi.
The maamad took place in the presence of the Rishon L’Tzion, Rav Dovid Yosef; the Rov of the Kosel and the Mekomos Hakedoshim, Rav Shmuel Rabinovitch; and the Mayor of Yerushalayim, Moshe Lion.
Also participating in the hadlakah was Segev Kalfon, who was recently released from Hamas captivity.
Speaking with visible emotion, Kalfon expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to stand at the Kosel. He spoke of the first light as representing that small but pure spark of light that has the power to dispel immense darkness. He noted that he stood there not only for himself, but on behalf of those who remain in captivity, mentioning Ran Gvili by name, and expressed his resolve that the light of Chanukah should serve as the thread that will ultimately bring him home.
Mayor Moshe Lion, addressing the gathering, said that as Klal Yisroel lights the first ner of Chanukah, hearts are heavy with pain over the brutal terror attack that struck the Jewish community in Australia. He emphasized that silence in the face of antisemitism exacts a deadly price, and conveyed condolences to the families of the victims along with heartfelt tefillos for a refuah sheleimah for the wounded.
The mayor added that seeing Segev Kalfon standing at the Kosel—after enduring 738 days in captivity and returning home—was a moment of great joy and nachas for all of Klal Yisroel. He concluded by noting that Chanukah is a time of light and hope, and that from Yerushalayim goes forth a brachah to every Jewish home in Eretz Yisroel and throughout the galus.
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CLICK HERE TO PLAY!Israeli officials from across the political spectrum unleashed fierce criticism of Australia’s government on Sunday, arguing that years of unchecked antisemitism and recent political decisions paved the way for the deadly mass shooting at a Chanukah gathering in Sydney.
The attack, which unfolded during a communal event at Bondi Beach, left at least 15 people dead after two gunmen opened fire. Thirteen others were reported to be in critical condition, among them two police officers who were wounded while responding to the scene.
Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry issued one of the harshest responses, declaring that responsibility for the massacre lay squarely with Canberra. Condemning what it called a “brutal act of terror targeting Jews who had gathered to mark the lighting of a Chanukah candle,” the ministry stated that “the blood of the victims is on the hands of the Australian government.” The statement accused Australia of pursuing policies that made it impossible for Jews to live “safely, peacefully, and securely as Jews in their own country.”
The ministry went further, asserting that since October 7, Australia had chosen “a policy of weakness, restraint, and appeasement” rather than standing firmly with Israel, and charged that Canberra was “appeasing the enemies of Western civilization.” According to the statement, data showed that “Australia has become one of the Western countries experiencing the sharpest and most alarming rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7,” adding that “repeated warnings, appeals, and attempts to engage with the authorities have been met time and again with a wall of indifference.”
President Isaac Herzog also addressed the tragedy, describing the shooting as “cruel” and urging Australian authorities to confront what he called “the enormous wave of antisemitism” gripping the country. Speaking at an event at the President’s Residence in Yerushalayim, he said, “Our sisters and brothers in Sydney, Australia, have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who had gone to light the first candle of Chanukah.” He added pointedly, “We repeat our alerts time and again to the Australian government.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar echoed those warnings in an English-language post, saying Australia had been repeatedly cautioned about the danger of violence. He described the shooting as the outcome of “the antisemitic rampage in the streets of Australia over the past two years, with the antisemitic and inciting calls of ‘Globalize the Intifada’ that were realized today.” Sa’ar concluded that “The Australian government, which received countless warning signs, must come to its senses.”
Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said there had been no specific intelligence pointing to an imminent attack, but stressed that national threat assessments had long warned of the likelihood of such violence. Since the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, he said, “we have witnessed a series of actions against the Jewish community and its institutions, a series that only intensified.” He added that he had publicly warned more than once that “if I were to wake up one morning and learn that a Jew was physically harmed, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Statistics released by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry underscored those concerns. A recent report recorded 1,654 antisemitic incidents between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025—roughly five times the annual average of the preceding decade. The year immediately after the October 7 attack saw an even higher figure, with 2,062 incidents documented.
Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu spoke just hours after the massacre, recalling a letter he sent to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in August. In that letter, he warned Canberra against policies that, in his words, were pouring fuel “on this antisemitic fire.” Paraphrasing his message, Netanyahu said Albanese’s actions, including Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state in September, had encouraged “the Jew-hatred now stalking your streets. Antisemitism is a cancer. It spreads when leaders stay silent. You must replace weakness with action.”
Netanyahu also issued a broader rebuke, saying, “We will continue to denounce those who do not denounce, but instead encourage. We will continue to demand that they do what is needed of leaders of free nations. We will not give up, we will not bow our heads, we will continue to fight as our ancestors did.”
Senior ministers from Israel’s right wing were even more explicit in linking the attack to Australian policy. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir argued that the decision to recognize a Palestinian state directly contributed to the violence. “Antisemitic terrorism knows no borders, but the blood of the murdered is on the hands of the Australian government, which announced recognition of a ‘Palestinian’ state and legitimized terrorism against Jews,” he said in a statement backing Australia’s Jewish community.
Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich said images from Sydney evoked memories of October 7 and demanded firm action, calling for “an uncompromising demand that the Australian government deal firmly with the rising antisemitism in the country and protect its Jews.” Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer wrote that during a visit to Australia he had seen “grave and troubling antisemitism, without an adequate response from the Australian government.” Fellow Religious Zionism MK Ohad Tal warned that “when you support terror in the Middle East, you get terror in your backyard. The massacre of Jews in Sydney is not fate; it’s the result of antisemitism that is allowed to grow unchecked.”
Australia’s September decision to recognize a Palestinian state was repeatedly cited by Israeli officials as part of the broader climate they say emboldened extremists.
Leaders of Shas and United Torah Judaism also condemned the attack, noting that a Chabad rabbi was among those killed. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said the massacre recalled the horrors of October 7 and cautioned other countries experiencing surges in anti-Jewish hatred. UTJ chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf said that “hatred of Jews knows no borders and erupts wherever incitement and terror are met with a blind eye.”
Criticism of Canberra was not limited to Israel’s governing coalition. Opposition figures joined the chorus, with Naftali Bennett accusing Australia of failure. He said that “failed and weak leadership on antisemitism led to Bondi,” adding, “The writing was on the wall and the government turned a blind eye to it.” Bennett demanded “that the Australian government take immediate action to protect Jewish communities and deal with antisemitism with the utmost seriousness.”
Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, warned of the deadly trajectory of unchecked incitement. “What starts with genocidal cries for the destruction of Israel, unsurprisingly ends with arson attacks on synagogues and murderous terror shootings against Jews at a Chanukah event,” he wrote. Echoing others, he said in English that “the writing was on the wall – and despite repeated warnings, the Australian authorities missed it once again,” urging Canberra to “take unprecedented measures to secure and protect their Jewish communities.”
MK Gilad Kariv, who chairs the Knesset Diaspora Affairs Committee, likewise insisted that “the Australian government must act decisively to ensure the safety of Australian Jews and to combat the scourge of antisemitism,” announcing that his committee would take up the issue in parliament.
{Matzav.com}
The Sydney Jewish community is reeling from the murder of Rabbi Yaakov Levitan Hy”d, a Chabad shliach who was killed in today’s terror attack.
Widely regarded as a devoted behind-the-scenes contributor, Rabbi Levitan played an integral role in the daily functioning of several of Sydney’s key Jewish institutions. Community leaders noted that his professionalism, reliability, and quiet dedication were indispensable to communal life.
Among his many responsibilities, Rabbi Levitan served as Secretary of the Sydney Beth Din, where he worked closely with rabbanim in an administrative and operational role, helping facilitate rabbinical proceedings and a wide range of communal matters.
He was also deeply involved with the BINA Library and Educational Resource Centre, acting as an administrator responsible for daily operations, budgeting, audit coordination, marketing efforts, and supervision of educational and religious services, including BINA Sofer Services.
In addition to his institutional work, Rabbi Levitan founded and owned tapNgive, a Sydney-based venture that introduced tap-and-pay donation kiosks for charities and nonprofit organizations, modernizing and streamlining charitable giving across the Jewish community and beyond.
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Rabbi Levitan held a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Business Management from the University of South Africa. He later pursued Rabbinic and Talmudic Studies at the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies in Yerushalayim.
Yehi zchro boruch.
{Matzav.com}
The Jewish communities of Sydney and Melbourne are mourning the loss of R’ Reuven Morrison Hy”d, who was killed in the terror shooting in Sydney.
R’ Reuven, 62, was a member of the Chabad community who split his time between Melbourne and Sydney, remaining deeply connected to both cities through his business dealings and communal involvement.
Originally from the former Soviet Union, Morrison emigrated to Australia as a teenager in the 1970s and later settled in the Bondi area of Sydney, where he became well known for his kindness, generosity, and philanthropic activism.
Last year, Morrison spoke publicly to the media about rising antisemitism in Australia, drawing on his own experiences growing up under Soviet rule. “Walking around the streets in the USSR we always looked back, we were aware of our environment, and we expected the unexpected,” Mr. Morrison said in December 2024.
He explained that Jews who left the USSR, particularly those of his generation, had lived under constant pressure and intimidation, both from the authorities and from society at large.
Yet he expressed disbelief that similar fears were now being felt in Australia. “We came here with the view that Australia is the safest country in the world and the Jews would not be faced with such anti-Semitism in the future, where we can bring up our kids in a safe environment.”
Despite residing primarily in Melbourne in recent years, Morrison remained closely tied to Sydney, where he continued his business activities and maintained strong communal bonds.
He is survived by his wife, Leah, his daughter, Shaina Gutnick, and his grandchildren.
{Matzav.com}
The terror attack targeting the Chabad Chanukah gathering in Bondi, Sydney, claimed the life of Alex Kleytman Hy”d, a Holocaust survivor and husband, father, and grandfather, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
Kleytman, a retired civil engineer, had gone to Bondi Beach to attend the long-running Chanukah at the Sea event when gunfire erupted, fatally wounding him.
His wife, Larisa, with whom he shared five decades of marriage, described the horrifying moments leading up to his death, saying she believes he was killed while trying to protect her. “I think he was shot because he raised himself up to protect me,” she told reporters.
Recalling the scene, Larisa said the couple had come as they did every year. “He came to Bondi Beach to celebrate Chanukah, for us it was always a very, very good celebration, for many, many years. Today, in the middle of the celebrations, there were shots, and unfortunately, my husband was killed.”
She described the sudden chaos as gunfire rang out. “We were standing and suddenly came the ‘boom boom’, and everybody fell down,” she said. “At this moment, he was behind me, and at one moment, he decided to go close to me; he pushed his body up because he wanted to stay near me.”
Alex and Larisa Kleytman emigrated to Australia from Ukraine, where they went on to build a family that included two children and 11 grandchildren.
{Matzav.com}
In the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Sydney, Australia, Ivanka Trump shared a public message, offering words of reflection and solidarity as the Jewish world marked the beginning of Chanukah.
The daughter of President Donald Trump drew on the spiritual themes of Chanukah, emphasizing the urgent need for moral clarity, compassion, and light in a time marked by violence and loss.
“As Jews around the world gather around our menorahs on this first night of Hanukkah, we are reminded how desperately the world needs more light and more Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of G-d’s name),” she wrote.
Addressing the human toll of recent attacks, Trump said the “heartbreaking tragedies in Bondi Beach, Australia, and at Brown University” are deeply painful to contemplate, adding that it is “unimaginable to fathom the pain these families are enduring.” She noted that “our hearts are with every loved one affected.”
She went on to connect the events to the enduring message of the Yom Tov, writing that Chanukah teaches that “even in the darkest moments, a single flame has the power to push back overwhelming darkness.” Trump said the act of lighting the menorah should honor those who were killed, stand in solidarity with grieving families, and reflect a renewed commitment to “bring more compassion, integrity, and holiness into the world.”
She concluded by urging people everywhere to strive to become “a source of light where it is most needed.”
{Matzav.com}
Australia is reeling after a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, where thousands had gathered to celebrate Chanukah in what authorities say is the country’s deadliest firearms attack in decades.
Police believe the assault was carried out by a father and son who legally possessed multiple firearms, despite Australia’s strict gun control laws.
The suspects have been identified as 24-year-old Naveed Akram and a 50-year-old man believed to be his father, according to officials who addressed the case on Monday.
During a confrontation with responding officers, the older suspect was fatally shot at the scene, while Akram was critically injured and remains hospitalized under police guard.
Investigators say the two men are responsible for the deaths of at least 15 people, with victims ranging in age from 10 to 87. Authorities believe the majority of those killed were Jewish and had been participating in Chanukah-related events at the beach.
Law enforcement officials disclosed that the pair jointly owned at least six firearms, all of which were legally licensed.
Preliminary findings indicate the attackers used a combination of shotguns and a bolt-action rifle, weapons that remain legal under Australia’s tightly regulated firearms framework.
Australia imposed sweeping gun restrictions following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, banning semi-automatic rifles and implementing rigorous registration and purchase requirements nationwide.
Despite those measures, the Bondi Beach shooting now stands as the most lethal mass gun attack in Australia since Port Arthur, which claimed 35 lives and left 24 others injured.
{Matzav.com}
