Sydney mourners remember rabbis killed in Bondi shooting

Two rabbis killed in the Bondi Beach Hanukkah festival shootings were remembered by hundreds of mourners in Sydney as kind and curious men who would be dearly missed by their friends, families and local community.

A Bondi synagogue was overflowing for the funeral of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a few blocks away from the beach where he was shot dead.

A funeral for the second rabbi, Yaakov Levitan, 39 and a father of four, was held at Macquarie Park in the city's north-west.

The two men had worked together at the Chabad of Bondi, both with young families and wives who had been best friends since high school, the services were told.

"Yaakov and Eli had an incredible partnership. Eli had the visions and ideas and Yaakov figured out how to get it done," said Rabbi Yakov Lieder, in an online obituary published on a Chabad website.

Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, Rabbi Schlanger's father-in-law, told the service Jewish people should not be scared of visiting Bondi Beach, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, in the wake of Sunday's mass shooting.

He said local rabbis would organise an event for the end of Hanukkah to light eight candles this Sunday at the scene of the tragedy.

Rabbi Schlanger and Rabbi Levitan were killed at the 'Chanukah by the Sea' event organised by Chabad of Bondi.

Rabbi Schlanger was the Chabad's assistant rabbi and Rabbi Levitan its chief operating officer.

Fifteen people were killed in the mass shooting, allegedly carried out by a father and son.

Rabbi Schlanger, 41, recently became a father for the fifth time. He was born in the UK but had lived in Sydney for the past 18 years.

Rabbi Ulman repeatedly broke down in tears as he remembered his son-in-law.

"You became everything to me, my hands, my feet. Your dedication to me knew no limits, I could rely on you for everything," he said.

"You were my son, my friend, my confidant ... to go a day without you seems impossible."

The crowd of mourners in Bondi spilled outside the synagogue. Dozens who could not get a seat gathered at the front of the venue and stood on the footpath and watched the funeral's livestream on their phones.

Prayers in Hebrew and English were read during the service, including one by Rabbi Schlanger's brother-in-law Rabbi Mendel Kastel.

Rabbi Ulman said Jewish people must not stop celebrating and displaying their faith.

"That is not the answer ... we can never ever allow them to not only succeed but any time they try something we become greater and stronger."

Read More: What we know so far about victims of Bondi Beach attack

The funeral of Matilda, the 10-year-old girl who died in the shooting, and youngest victim, will be held tomorrow, according to an online funeral notice.

Security was heightened in Bondi Beach, with a heavy presence of police as well as private security guards and Jewish security services. State police cordoned off the street leading to the synagogue and conducted bag searches of attendees and media.

At the ceremony's close, eight police officers in ceremonial dress formed an honour guard for the hearse.

The officers then led the procession down the street, followed by the hearse and a crowd of mourners.

Halfway down the street the procession paused and broke out into lamentation. Men at the front did not take their hands off the hearse while singing a nigun, a song without words.

New South Wales state Premier Chris Minns, who has backed calls for tougher gun laws, federal opposition leader Sussan Ley and local member Allegra Spender were at the funeral.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was not at the service and said he would attend funerals if he was invited.

One mourner said Rabbi Schlanger was selfless, and would often drive up to four hours each way to visit some of the state's prisons and meet with Jewish inmates.

"We miss him dearly. He was there for everyone, he didn't care whether you were wealthy or poor."