Texas Rabbi’s Son Critically Wounded in Sydney Hanukkah Mass Shooting

A tragic event unfolded on Sunday when a mass shooting targeted a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia, leaving the son of Texas A&M University’s campus rabbi critically wounded.

The Incident

The attack took place during a Hanukkah event organized by Chabad of Bondi. According to the Associated Press, at least 15 people, including a child, were killed, and at least 42 others were treated at hospitals, several in critical condition. The shooting was described as a terrorist attack on the Jewish community.

Impact on the Lazaroff Family

Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff informed KXAN that his son, Rabbi Leibel Lazaroff, was shot in the leg and abdomen. He had emergency surgery and is in the Intensive Care Unit. The son was in Sydney for a rabbinical internship to assist in managing the Chanukah event for Chabad of Bondi when the attack happened.

> “[He] had emergency surgery and is in the [Intensive Care Unit],” Rabbi Lazaroff told KXAN.

Rabbi Lazaroff posted a heartfelt message: “We ask the community to join us in prayers and good deeds for our dear son,” he wrote. He added, “We mourn with the families whose loved ones were taken from them.”

Losses Among the Victims

Among those killed was Rabbi Leibel Lazaroff’s colleague, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Hy’d. The Associated Press reported that the shooting claimed the lives of several members of the local Jewish community, highlighting the broader impact of the tragedy.

Political and Community Response

Texas Republican Sen. Charles Schwertner posted on X to acknowledge the incident. He wrote: “Please join me in praying for Rabbi Yossi and Manya Lazaroff’s son, Rabbi Leibel Lazaroff, who was shot, and all those who were killed and injured in the terrorist attack on the Jewish community.”

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes, and Councilmember Marc Duchen released a joint statement on X sharing their condolences. The statement read: “Earlier today the world received news of the terrorist attack targeting a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia,” the statement said, in part. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families impacted by this terrible tragedy, and we unequivocally denounce antisemitism and religiously motivated violence in all its forms.”

Background on the Lazaroffs

The Lazaroffs founded and are directors of Chabad Jewish Center at Texas A&M University, according to the organization’s website. Their involvement in the Sydney event underscores the international reach of their rabbinical work and the close ties between the Texas Jewish community and global Jewish organizations.

Key Takeaways

• Rabbi Leibel Lazaroff was critically wounded in a Sydney Hanukkah shooting and is now in the ICU.
• The attack claimed 15 lives, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger, and injured at least 42 others.
• Texas officials and local leaders have called for prayers and condemned the violence.

The tragedy has reverberated across continents, illustrating how a single act of terror can affect families, communities, and leaders worldwide. The Lazaroffs’ experience in Sydney highlights the global interconnectedness of Jewish communities and the shared grief that follows such violent acts.

Closing

As the wounded recover and survivors process the loss, the international Jewish community remains united in prayer and solidarity. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of antisemitic violence and the need for vigilance and support across all communities.