Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who lost his finger in the shooting in April, is stepping away as a spritiual leader of the Chabad of Poway, and his son, Rabbi Mendel Goldstein, would take over, starting with a Jewish observance this weekend.
“It’s (the) personal life of Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, and we’d stay away from that because we want to respect him, as we know the issue that took place here on April 27, so Rabbi Mendel Goldstein has been our spiritual leader now,” said worshipper Steve Arnold.
Arnold did not say whether or not Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein was stepping down due to the synagogue shooting.
On April 27, a gunman fired shots inside the Chabad of Poway, killing worshipper Lori Gilbert-Kaye Rabbi and injuring Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein.
“I should've been dead by now, based on the rule of statistics. I was in the line of fire, bullets flying all the way. My fingers got blown off, but I did not stop,” Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein said at the White House in May. “The rabbi taught me, as a Jew, you are a solider of God. You need to stand tall and stand fast and do whatever it takes to change the world.”
Worshipper Almog Peretz and then-8-year-old Noya Dahan were also injured.
Rabbi Goldstein speaks out after losing his finger in synagogue attack. NBC 7's Ramon Galindo has more.
“We have a lot of people, including Rabbi (Yisroel) Goldstein, that is recovering from this incident, but what’s most important now is what Chabad is doing to help our community,” Arnold told NBC 7. “The community has really come forward since the incident to show so much more love. And I think it touched everybody, the incident.”
Rabbi Mendel Goldstein has taken over the duties of leading the Poway synagogue ahead of Shabbat San Diego – a weekend to celebrate unity and togetherness.
“We’re not focusing on ‘woe as we,’ it’s more of, let’s bring the community back and continue the growth,” Arnold said.
The Poway synagogue shooting survivors were at the White House today for National Day of Prayer. NBC 7's Alex Presha has more.
Arnold added that, “We’re still the same Chabad. Come on back, enjoy.”
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein founded the synagogue in the 1980s, and it has since become a staple for the Poway community, according to the Chabad of Poway’s website.
In 2015, Rabbi Mendel Goldstein moved to Poway from Brooklyn, New York, to “start fresh again with new and young energy,” the synagogue’s website said. Rabbi Mendel Goldstein would continue to help his father over the next several years.
Shabbat San Diego is a celebration of life and connection over four days, beginning on Nov. 14, according to Shabbat San Diego program coordinator Simone Abelsohn.
On Thursday, communities up and down the county’s coast, as well as around the world, will bake Challah together – a special bread used in Jewish ceremonies.
“We have Challah bakes starting up in Vista, Oceanside and all the way down to Tijuana,” Abelsohn said. “Just Jewish peoplehood coming together, rising together in celebration and in life.”
On Friday, Shabbat meals will be hosted to celebrate family, friends, and peoplehood, Abelsohn told NBC 7.
“No matter how you practice your Judaism, Shabbat is something everyone does. Everyone gets together with their families,” Abelsohn said.
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Images taken outside Chabad of Poway on Monday, April 29, the afternoon of the funeral service for shooting victim Lori Gilbert-Kaye.
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Hannah Kaye (L) and her father Howard Kaye, M.D. talk about their mother/wife Lori Gilbert-Kaye at her funeral service on Monday, April, 29, 2019.
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Images taken outside Chabad of Poway on Monday, April 29, the afternoon of the funeral service for shooting victim Lori Gilbert-Kaye.
Melissa Adan/NBC 7
Images taken outside Chabad of Poway on Monday, April 29, the afternoon of the funeral service for shooting victim Lori Gilbert-Kaye.
Crystal Whitman
Images taken outside Chabad of Poway on Monday, April 29, the afternoon of the funeral service for shooting victim Lori Gilbert-Kaye.
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People attend a prayer and candlelight vigil at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church on April 27, 2019, in Poway, California.
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People attend a prayer and candlelight vigil at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church on April 27, 2019, in Poway, California.
AP
A couple holds candles during a vigil held for victims of the Chabad of Poway synagogue shooting, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Poway, California.
David McNew/Getty Images
People attend a prayer and candlelight vigil at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church on April 27, 2019, in Poway, California. A gunman opened fire at the Chabad of Poway synagogue on the last day of Passover, leaving one person dead and three others injured. The suspect is in custody.
AP
Noya Dahan, 8, rides on the shoulders of her father, Israel Dahan, at a candlelight vigil held for victims of the Chabad of Poway synagogue shooting, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Poway, California. Dahan was one of the people injured when a 19-year-old gunman opened fire at the synagogue, killing one person and injuring three others.
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People embrace outside the Chabad of Poway synagogue on April 27, 2019, in Poway, California.
AP
Leslie Gollub, left, and Gretchen Gordon hug at a vigil held to support the victims of Saturday's shooting at Chabad of Poway synagogue, Sunday, April 28, 2019, in Poway, California.
Denis Poroy/AP
People gather and react outside of the Chabad of Poway synagogue on April 27, 2019, in Poway, California. A 19-year-old man opened fire inside the synagogue near San Diego as worshippers celebrated the last day of a major Jewish holiday, killing a woman and injuring three other people. A rabbi who was injured in the shooting said the gunman's gun jammed, preventing more deaths or injuries.
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A 19-year-old San Diego man with a rifle entered Chabad of Poway on Rancho Bernardo Road, west of Interstate 15 at 11:23 a.m. and opened fire on the people inside, law enforcement officials said.
Richard Wilson
More than half a dozen police cars were seen along Rancho Bernardo Road outside Phil’s BBQ -- roughly two miles away from the temple --- where the suspect was apprehended. The 19-year-old pulled over, jumped out of his car with his hands up and was taken into custody, SDPD Chief David Nisleit said. "As the officer was placing this 19-year-old male into custody, he clearly saw a rifle sitting on the front passenger seat of the suspect vehicle," he said.
Richard Wilson
As the suspect fled the scene, an off-duty U.S. Border Patrol agent who was in the synagogue at the time of the shooting opened fire on the suspect, missing the man but striking his vehicle, San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore said.
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One woman died from injuries suffered in the shooting. A girl and two adult men were injured and rushed to Palomar Medical Center Poway, officials confirmed at 2:30 p.m.
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A memorial of flowers and signs began growing outside the synagogue. One of the signs said, “Our thoughts & prayers are with you. May the community know no more sorrow.”
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President Donald Trump commented on the shooting, saying, "We're doing some very heavy research we'll see what happens, what comes up, at this moment it looks like a hate crime, but my deepest sympathies to all of those affected and we'll get to the bottom of it."
Crystal Whitman
One of the signs at a memorial in honor of the victims of the synagogue shooting said, “We will build this world from LOVE.”
NBC 7
This is Lori Kane and Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, two victims of the shooting. 60-year-old Kane died from injuries suffered in the shooting and 57-year-old Rabbi Goldstein suffered injuries to index fingers.
NBC 7
This is the last picture taken of Lori Kane (Third from left) at her best-friends daughter's graduation taken on Friday, Apr. 26.
A city-wide prayer vigil was held Sunday night at Valle Verde Community Park at 7 p.m. where Rabbi Goldstein and mayor, Steve Vaus from Poway were in attendance
This is eight-year-old Noya Dahan, one of the youngest victims in the shooting, she sustained shrapnel injuries and was released out of the hospital the same day the shooting happened.
This is 34-year-old Almog Peretz, one of the victims, he sustained shrapnel and gunshot wounds in his legs and face. He has been released from the hospital.
On Saturday, services will be held in the morning and afternoon, and at night, the community will gather for the Unity Havdalah Concert at the Observatory in North Park.
Starting at 7 p.m., The One and Only and Ezzy Gluck and Band will perform with a message of unity.
“Unity. Unity in San Diego. Unity in America. Unity across the whole world,” Abelsohn said.
On Sunday, Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in La Jolla will host a Jewish Day of Learning to round out the weekend.
Shabbat San Diego said 2 million people will participate around the globe over the weekend in more than 1,500 cities in 97 countries.
