Lori Kaye’s funeral service, held Monday at Chabad-Lubavitch of Poway under a rainy sky, was many things: scholarly and emotional; sad and joyous; poignant and humorous. One thing it was not was scared or defeatist, striking a tone of defiant optimism throughout. Hundreds of Jewish community members, law-enforcement representatives, local officials and well-wishers filled Chabad of Poway’s airy sanctuary to bid farewell to Kaye. The holy space—a place of joy, prayer and fellowship—was one that Kaye loved and had been instrumental in bringing into reality. Two days ago, on the last day of Passover, that peace was shattered when a young man entered and began shooting at innocent and unarmed men, women and children gathered inside, striking and killing Kaye. And now it was the site of her funeral. People came from all over for the funeral, which was televised and streamed live on Chabad.org. As the overflow crowd in the lobby and outside waited patiently for the ceremony to begin, the congregation’s founding leader, Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein—hands bound in bandages and suspended in slings due to the injuries he suffered in the attack, including the loss of his right index finger—could be observed hugging, comforting and crying with his congregants. RELATED Sam Hoffman, president of Chabad of Poway, acknowledged the enormous crowd, which included representatives of many different faiths and ethnic groups, leaders of major Jewish organizations, elected officials, and Chabad rabbis from California and beyond. “While we sit here, it is not lost on me or any of us that in the very place a terrorist came to tear us down, we have now come together to build us back up,” he opened. “We are here to bring a light to our hero Lori Kaye and show that we stand tall against the darkness of evil.” Wearing a black kippah, Elan Carr, the U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, shared condolences on behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration. Carr noted the symbolism of the attack, which took place just one week after Jews all over the world had gathered for Passover seders, the liturgy of which speaks of anti-Semites who have risen in each and every generation try to obliterate the Jewish people, and could have succeeded if not for G‑d’s protection. The holy space—a place of joy, prayer and fellowship—was one that Kaye had been instrumental in bringing into reality.

A Woman’s Devotion to Jewish Values Eitan Weiss, Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles, spoke of Lori Kaye’s devotion to Jewish values and expressed Israel’s dedication to standing “shoulder to shoulder” with Jewish people all over the world. “This is our greatest victory against those who will try to harm us,” he said. “The more they threaten us, the more we will push back by celebrating and upholding the values we hold dear. And eventually, we will be triumphant; we will always be here.” Poway Mayor Steve Vaus, who had been with the congregation throughout the harrowing ordeal, led the assembled in singing “God Bless America.” In his brief remark, he told the congregation that “this community loves you, I love you, and G‑d loves you.” Rabbis Mendel and Shuie Goldstein of Chabad of Poway—the senior Rabbi Goldstein’s sons—recited Psalm 20 in Hebrew and English, before Rabbi Mendy Rubenfeld read out Psalm 23: “Even when I walk in the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil for You are with me ... ” Rabbi Yonah Fradkin, regional director of Chabad of San Diego, spoke of the beauty and kindness with which Kaye lived her life. Reflecting on the outpouring of love and solidarity that had come from the entire world, he dubbed Chabad of Poway the “largest congregation in the United States.” The crowd then heard from Dr. Howard Kaye, husband of the deceased. He spoke of the strength and insight he derived from his Torah learning, and drew adoring and humorous parallels between her and King Solomon’s Woman of Valor. People from all walks of life came to honor Kaye. He noted that the Torah reading of the week told of Aaron’s accepting silence in the face of the tragic death of his two sons, Nadab and Abihu. “She had a soul that was greater than any of us could ever believe,” he said, referencing the Scapegoat, which was also discussed in the Torah portion. “Lori sacrificed her life [for G‑d],” he said telling how he had done CPR on her. “There was no blood. She did not suffer; she went straight [to heaven].” Addressing the murderer and others who perpetrate acts of hate, Kaye urged them to turn their lives around and “come back into the world, the world of Lori, which is the world of peace and love on earth.” A overflow crowd of visitors filled Chabad of Poway, Calif.