Roosters' Bond with Community Runs Deep: A Glimpse into Club's Support

A group of Sydney Roosters players met with Rabbi Eli Schlanger and other leaders in the Eastern Suburbs Jewish community on December 9, 2025, just days before the devastating terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. The meeting, which took place at the Chabad of Bondi Synagogue, was a rare glimpse into the club's community-focused side.

The Roosters, often tagged as a well-oiled machine representing the richest postcodes in Australia, were seen eating kosher food, learning about Jewish customs, and walking along the beachfront and Bondi Pavilion. Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, Rabbi Schlanger's father-in-law, was also present during the meeting.

"They came to the synagogue, and they had a run-down of the different meanings and symbolisms," Rabbi Ulman said. "And I remember they were very curious and very interested to understand everything that was going on."

Roosters CEO Joe Kelly, who was also present, said the players took an immediate liking to Rabbi Schlanger. "Eli was a person who could connect with anybody," Rabbi Ulman added.

Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin, described the meeting as a "very happy occasion." "The Roosters came, they were incredibly charming, engaged, very articulate, very knowledgeable already about the Jewish community in this area," he said. "And just really thirsting for more knowledge and understanding of Jewish customs and traditions … really left a very positive impression on everybody they met."

The players also gained a deeper understanding of the darkness experienced by the community in the 12 months prior, including the uptick in antisemitic incidents. Ryvchin explained to them how the incidents had impacted the local community, saying, "They had a very high level of awareness already in terms of the fire bombings that were happening here routinely."

The events of December 14 had a profound impact on the Roosters, and the club observed a minute's silence for the victims of the attack before their first home game of the season. Joe Kelly said the terror attack hit particularly "close to home" for the club.

Rabbi Ulman, who spoke at Rabbi Schlanger's funeral, understood the grief felt by the players. "When we see something that happens in the world that is wrong, we are affected by it, and we automatically feel how wrong this is," he said. "But when it happens to somebody that we know, it affects us so much more because it's close to home."

The Roosters players gathered to pay their respects on Bondi Beach as soon as they could, and the club also had Summer, sister of the youngest victim, Matilda, toss the coin and deliver the ball ahead of the Roosters' first home game of the new year.