Our Story
The Jewish Community Heritage Foundation was founded in the wake of tragedy, dedicated to honoring the legacy of Rabbi Eli Schlanger and continuing his life's work of building Jewish community.
Our Story
On December 14, 2025, during a Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, a terrorist attack claimed the lives of 15 people. Among them was Rabbi Eli Schlanger הי״ד, 41, assistant rabbi of Chabad of Bondi and a devoted father of five. The Bondi terror attack, also known as the Bondi Beach Chanukah massacre or Bondi massacre, was the deadliest terror attack in Australian history.
Eli was one of four rabbis—four friends—who trained together in rabbinical school and went on to build Jewish community organizations across four cities: Mendel Grossbaum in Los Angeles, Eli Rutman in Miami, Levi Feldman in Brooklyn, and Eli Schlanger in Sydney. Each devoted his career to building Jewish community. Eli had just completed a major community center and residential development in Bondi Beach—a project he shepherded through twelve years of zoning and three years of construction. His funeral was held in the building he helped build.
In response to the Bondi terror attack and the antisemitic violence that claimed Rabbi Eli Schlanger's life, the three remaining friends founded JCHF to carry Eli's name and legacy forward. Our mission is to honor his memory by continuing what he devoted his life to: building Jewish community. This campus stands as a testament to resilience, healing, and the enduring power of community in the face of tragedy.
Four Friends, Four Cities
Mendel Grossbaum (Los Angeles), Eli Rutman (Miami), Levi Feldman (Brooklyn), Eli Schlanger הי״ד (Sydney)
United in their mission to build Jewish community
Rabbi Eli Schlanger הי״ד
1984 - 2025
Builder of Jewish Community
Our Institutional Foundation
JCHF operates under the umbrella of Chabad-Lubavitch, which oversees a global Jewish network with over 5,000 centers in 100+ countries. Chabad has a long track record of large-scale community development, including:
Menorah Center, Dnipro, Ukraine
$100M+ Jewish community campus
Pears Jewish Campus, Berlin
$44M+ community development
Chabad of California Campus, Los Angeles
16-story, 300,000 SF corporate office tower acquired for conversion to community campus
These projects were funded primarily through philanthropic capital—as this one will be.
Leadership
Rabbi Mendel Grossbaum
Director, Los Angeles
Rabbi Mendel Grossbaum leads the Jewish Community Heritage Foundation from Los Angeles, bringing decades of experience in community building and Jewish institutional development.
Rabbi Eli Rutman
Founding Partner, Miami
Rabbi Eli Rutman serves as a founding partner, bringing his expertise in community development and Jewish education to the foundation's mission.
Rabbi Levi Feldman
Founding Partner, Brooklyn
Rabbi Levi Feldman brings his experience in Jewish institutional leadership and community engagement to support the foundation's vision.
Rabbi Eli Schlanger הי״ד
In Loving Memory, Sydney
Rabbi Eli Schlanger's vision, dedication, and legacy continue to guide our work. He devoted his life to building Jewish community and creating spaces where people of all backgrounds could connect with their heritage and with each other. The Eli Schlanger Memorial Campus stands as a testament to his enduring impact.
Get In Touch
Jewish Community Heritage Foundation
9051 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Phone: 908-906-1756
Email: [email protected]
Campus Location:
150 Kettletown Road
Southbury, Connecticut 06488