An unsung hero, a passionate community leader and a devoted father who lost their lives in the Bondi Beach mass shooting have been farewelled.
Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Assistant Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Reuven Morrison were among the 15 people killed when father-and-son attackers opened fire on a Jewish religious celebration on Sunday.
Rabbi Schlanger was hailed as a man who saved lives through his community work during his funeral service at a packed Chabad of Bondi synagogue on Wednesday morning.
His father-in-law highlighted his warmth and compassion toward his family and the NSW Jewish community.
"Our community suffered our own seventh of October," Rabbi Yehoram Ulman said in his eulogy, referencing the Hamas attack in Israel in 2023.
There was a heavy police and security presence at the services, as dozens of mourners were left outside the building with the synagogue at capacity.
The synagogue is a significant focal point for the sizeable local Jewish community and was where Rabbi Schlanger worked and helped organise the Chanukkah by the Sea event on Sunday.
The event marked the first day of the Jewish festival of lights, also spelled Hanukkah.
Rabbi Ulman spoke of the tremendous lengths his son-in-law went to providing spiritual support for the incarcerated.
"He became super involved with prisons and would drive three, four hours each way to visit one single prisoner," he said.
His loved ones and the local Jewish community were planning to return to the scene of the shooting at Bondi to light eight candles in a show of strength, the rabbi said.
Rabbi Schlanger's funeral at the Chabad of Bondi synagogue was followed by a service for Mr Morrison at the same venue, a sacred place considered his "second home."
Mr Morrison died moments after confronting one of the shooters by hurling a brick at him.
Mourners were told this heroic action in an effort to save lives was unsurprising.
The service celebrated his life, with mourners urged to strive to be like Mr Morrison, to stare evil in the face and not stand down and be fearless.
Rabbi Levitan, a father of four, was remembered as a humble man with the ability to connect with anyone, regardless of their faith.
In a service on Wednesday at a North Ryde chapel, the 39-year-old was recognised as having a "heart for gold".
Mourners were told his voice was quiet and unassuming, but his impact was huge.
Feelings of shock, pain and sorrow were expressed during the service, with mourners reflecting on how to cope with their loss and find understanding.
They were told to "move forward the way Yaakov would want us to".
The youngest victim of the attack, 10-year-old Matilda, is expected to be laid to rest on Thursday.
