The Brooklyn sister of the beloved rabbi slain in the Bondi Seashore Hanukkah bloodbath is doubling down on her Jewish delight, insisting, “We’re not hiding and we’re not afraid.”
Chani Schlanger Drizin, 54, sat shiva this week for her child brother, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, in her dwelling in Crown Heights, which has been a hotbed of antisemitic assaults for years — and once more this week.
She insisted she’ll honor her brother’s legacy and her religion by standing proud within the face of rising hate.
“He would inform us to maintain going,” mentioned Drizin, who wore a freshly torn sweatshirt, per the Jewish customized as an expression of ache.
Her brother helped manage the Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 14, the primary night time of the vacation.
The whole Schlanger household, together with spouse, Chaya, and 5 children, from 17 to 6 weeks outdated, confirmed as much as assist the rabbi run the beloved annual Hanukkah by the Sea occasion that drew some 2,000 folks.
Dying rained down when Sajid Akram, 50, and his son, Naveed, 24, allegedly opened fireplace on the gang, killing 15 and leaving dozens harm. The rabbi was shot within the again after throwing himself on a group member to defend them from the bullets, and died immediately.
Hate unfolded nearer to dwelling days later, when a Yeshiva pupil was assaulted on the subway and a person was stabbed by an attacker who allegedly seethed “I’m going to kill a Jew at present.”
“I don’t know what occurred to New York. I want I knew. That is my dwelling, however the spike in antisemitism is terrifying,” Drizin mentioned.
“The scary factor is, It’s going to occur once more,” she predicted. “I pray it doesn’t occur right here, nevertheless it received’t cease me from leaving my home and persevering with doing our holy work.”
She sobbed as she scrolled via movies of her adored brother on her telephone, watching clips of him goofing round with household.
“We’re nonetheless going to mild the menorah in public and take the subway — they’re not going to tear us down.”
A British native who’s lived in New York for 36 years, she insisted “We’re all on this collectively.
“They attempt to destroy us, however each time they do one thing, we grow to be stronger and extra resilient.”
Household good friend Shalom Goldstein — whose cousin, 20-year-old American Leibel Lazaroff, was critically injured after being shot a number of instances at Bondi Seashore — blamed “political correctness” for rising antisemitism and mentioned he appealed to NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch for defense after the current spate of hate crimes in Crown Heights.
“We have been hoping we’re in higher instances, however the ugly head of antisemitism is rearing once more. The issue is the bystanders and people who rationalize it or discover politically right methods to attempt to spin it,” he mentioned.
Drizin prayed for “an finish to the hatred on this darkish world” as she lit the candles on her menorah, whereas summoning the energy to sing the conventional tune commemorating the miracles God delivers for the Jewish folks.
“We’re going to make this world an even bigger and brighter place and maintain our religion. We’re going to come back out stronger than ever,” she vowed.
With every passing automotive blasting festive Hanukkah music, Drizin is reminded of the mission of her 41-year-old brother, who recurrently visited the sick and incarcerated.
“Eli was all about pleasure, love, and appreciation for being Jewish.”
Schlanger, a “modern-day Maccabee,” impressed his loving sister. “Nobody’s going to cease us from persevering with what we’re doing.
”We are going to carry that legacy unafraid.”
