Two gunmen took her friend. She won’t let them take something else

Two Gunmen Took Her Friend. She Won’t Let Them Take Something Else

Two gunmen took her friend She won – On a rainy summer morning, Rabbi Eli Schlanger sat in his chair, exhaled slowly, and wore a childlike smile. “What are you thinking?” Nikki Goldstein asked him. Schlanger replied, “I am completely happy. I love my wife and my children, and I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to be doing. I’m right on my path.” Their conversation, filled with philosophical musings, had become a familiar ritual, though Schlanger was often delayed for his weekly Zoom calls. Goldstein, a self-described “blonde, blue-eyed, White-passing woman,” sometimes felt embarrassed about being Jewish. Schlanger, a bespectacled, bearded man who never ventured out without his black hat and orthodox rabbi’s jacket, gently corrected her: “There’s no such thing as a secular Jew. We’re just Jews.”

The Shooting at Bondi Beach

Two weeks after that exchange, Schlanger was leading a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The atmosphere was festive, with children munching on jelly-filled doughnuts and families gathering to watch the lighting of a menorah. It was meant to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness, but by 7 p.m., the scene had shifted. Goldstein’s phone buzzed with messages from friends: “Gunshots at Bondi Beach. Lots of sirens and choppers en route…” Her stomach dropped. Schlanger was supposed to be at the event. “Oh God, could be MY rabbi,” she texted a friend, her voice trembling with disbelief.

“I am completely happy,” Schlanger said. “I love my wife and my children, and I am doing exactly what I am meant to be doing. I am completely on my path.”

As more details arrived, Goldstein’s scream pierced the air. She collapsed into her husband’s arms, then wailed like a wounded animal. The tragedy was not just a loss of life—it was a stark reminder of the growing threat against Jewish communities. Antisemitism, often called “the world’s oldest virus of hate,” had struck again, this time at Bondi Beach, where two ISIS supporters opened fire, killing Schlanger and 14 others. The event marked a turning point, one that would echo far beyond Australia.

A Growing Fear in the United States

What transpired in Sydney resonates deeply in the U.S., where antisemitism has surged in recent months. The same hatred that fueled the Bondi Beach attack is now spreading across American cities. Many Jewish individuals no longer feel safe in public spaces, with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reporting that assaults against Jews in the U.S. reached a 46-year high last year. Armed guards now patrol synagogues, community centers, and schools, while a growing number of Jews hide their Star of David necklaces and other symbols of faith from prying eyes. Nearly 73% of Jews surveyed say they’ve experienced antisemitism online, a statistic that underscores the pervasive nature of the threat.

“Jews are starting to hide in this country,” said Florida Representative Jared Moskowitz, a Jewish lawmaker from both major political parties, during a recent television interview. “That’s the telltale sign that we are on a very scary trajectory.” Moskowitz’s words reflect a broader concern: antisemitism has become an urgent issue, with personal threats against Jewish Americans increasing at an alarming rate. The sentiment, he argued, signals a shift in how Jews perceive their safety in the U.S.

Roots of Hatred and Modern Resonance

Antisemitism is not a new phenomenon. Its history stretches centuries, with roots in medieval Europe, where Jews were accused of “Christ killers” and expelled from several nations. In the late 19th century, anti-Jewish riots, or pogroms, devastated Russian communities. Even in the Jim Crow era, Jewish individuals like Leo Frank faced lynchings for alleged crimes. Nazi Germany later escalated this hatred, systematically exterminating six million Jews during the Holocaust. The same fear that once drove persecution now lingers in contemporary society.

The recent surge in antisemitism is often linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, which claimed the lives of 1,200 people, Israel launched an invasion of Gaza. The war has resulted in at least 72,000 Palestinian deaths, intensifying tensions and fueling anti-Jewish sentiment globally. While the conflict in Gaza is a catalyst, the hatred it has stirred is not new. It has evolved, however, to reflect modern grievances and ideological battles.

Conversations That Shaped a Book

Goldstein and Schlanger’s bond deepened after the traumatic shooting. Their initial conversations, which had once been lighthearted, took on a new urgency. Goldstein, recovering from pneumonia, had been placed on a ventilator and left comatose in the hospital ICU. Her survival, she calls a miracle, was attributed to Schlanger’s presence—a moment that would later inspire a book. “Conversations with My Rabbi: Timeless Teachings for a Fractured World” retraces their exchanges in the aftermath of the tragedy. The book serves as both a tribute and a reflection, offering insights into how Judaism can provide wisdom for a divided world.

Goldstein’s experience highlights the personal and emotional toll of antisemitism. “What happened there, and how I responded, matters just as much in the U.S.,” she said in a recent interview. The events at Bondi Beach were not just a loss of life but a catalyst for reevaluating the role of Jewish identity in modern society. As Goldstein and Schlanger explore these themes in their book, they challenge readers to look beyond conspiracy theories and the debates over Israel. Instead, they invite others to discover the values and teachings of Judaism that could enrich their own lives.

Goldstein’s journey from doubt to conviction mirrors the broader struggle within Jewish communities. Once feeling ashamed of her heritage, she now sees it as a source of strength. Schlanger, ever the steadfast guide, continues to emphasize the universality of Jewish faith. “We’re just Jews,” he once told her, and that simple truth has taken on new meaning in the wake of the shooting. Their conversations, once a casual routine, now serve as a testament to resilience and hope in the face of growing hostility.

As the world grapples with rising antisemitism, Goldstein and Schlanger’s story stands as a reminder of the power of connection and dialogue. Their book not only documents their journey but also offers a blueprint for understanding the enduring relevance of Jewish teachings. In a time when hatred seems to grow more potent, their words may provide a lifeline—proof that even in the darkest moments, light can persist through faith, family, and the unbreakable bond between a woman and her rabbi.