Rabbi Killed In Australia Was Nephew Of Poway Rabbi Wounded In 2019 Attack

POWAY, CA — Sunday's mass shooting at a Hanukkah event in Australia hit particularly hard for Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein of Chabad Poway, whose nephew, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, was leading the festive holiday event before he and more than a dozen others were killed, Goldstein told City News Service Sunday.

Goldstein himself was shot and seriously wounded in an antisemitic attack at the Chabad of Poway synagogue in 2019 that killed a woman who was standing in front of him.

He told CNS that he had been up all night after getting a phone call from a relative in Sydney about Schlanger, his youngest sister's son-in law.

"Every time there is a mass shooting, it just brings it back up to the front," Goldstein said of the 2019 attack. "That trauma never leaves you."

Goldstein urged the entire Poway community not be deterred and to attend his Hanukkah event Sunday at Old Poway Park to show solidarity. He says there will be a strong security presence as well as at another event he is hosting at North County Mall on Monday evening.

"Nothing that anyone does will never dim our lights. A little bit of light will push away the darkness with random acts of goodness and kindness," Goldstein said. "We will recover from this stronger and brighter and greater."

Schlanger, 41 and a father of five, was the head of the Chabad mission in Bondi, and had served the Jewish community there for over 18 years.

Goldstein lost his right index finger in the April 27, 2019 attack, which occurred on the last day of Passover and killed Lori Gilbert-Kaye.

John Earnest of Rancho Penasquitos carried out the shooting. He was later sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors said he authored racist and antisemitic writings and committed the attack out of hatred.
Law enforcement officials in San Diego County were planning heightened security this week at Hanukkah events and places of worship.

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said the city "stands in unequivocal condemnation of the abhorrent terrorist attack in Australia. We mourn the lives lost and stand in solidarity with those affected.
"As our Jewish community prepares to celebrate Hanukkah -- a time that symbolized light, resilience, and hope -- we are taking proactive steps here at home. Under the leadership of Police Chief Scott Wahl, the San Diego Police Department is increasing officer visibility and enhancing security at Jewish institutions, synagogues, and Hanukkah celebrations.

"San Diego is a city that values diversity and rejects hate. We will protect the right of every San Diegan to celebrate their faith and traditions free from fear. We choose peace, we stand together, and we will not allow violence or antisemitism to divide us."

The San Diego Police Department posted the following statement on X:
"We are deeply saddened by the news of the horrific attack in Sydney. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those involved and to the greater Sydney community. We understand the real fear that acts of violence like this spread among our communities. It is a reminder for all of us to remain vigilant.

"While there are no known threats, the San Diego Police Department is working closely with our law enforcement partners, and out of an abundance of caution will be increasing patrols near houses of worship and community events," the statement continued. "If you see any suspicious activity, please report it immediately."

SDPD Officer Sarah Foster told City News Service that Western Division officers have been assigned to patrol the Liberty Station area throughout the week and other divisions will do the same.

"They always take the precaution that those places are watched," Foster said.

Lt. Nick Backouris of the San Diego County Sheriff's Office told CNS that a memo went out to deputies after Sunday's shooting to make sure they are checking in and providing extra patrols to places of worship and religious events.

"As we do with every holiday seasons, we are beefing up patrols at places of worship and establishing connections with local leaders of those facilities," Backouris said.

"At this time, there are no known threats to the San Diego County region. We will continue to monitor the situation with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners," the sheriff's office said Sunday on X.

"Out of an abundance of caution ... deputies will be conducting extra patrols at synagogues located in Sheriff's Office jurisdiction. ... If you see something, say something. Report any suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1 or your local law enforcement agency."

Nechama Eilfort, rebbetzin and co-director at Chabad La Costa, said in light of what happened in Australia, the facility has additional security planned including local sheriff's deputies and police officers, as well as uniformed armed guards and undercover security.

"Unfortunately a colleague was murdered and we are shocked but not surprised. This is somewhat the reality. People need to reach out to the Jewish community and be allies," Eilfort said. "I believe that public displays of visible Judaism is what will help stop anti-Semitism. More Judaism, not less."
Eifort said her cousin was at the menorah lighting at Bondi beach and escaped unharmed.

"They ducked and ran and left all her belongings," she said.

As many as 16 people were reported killed in the attack, which took place at Sydney's Bondi Beach as hundreds of Jews gathered to mark the first day of Hanukkah. Local authorities there described it as a targeted antisemitic attack.

Authorities also said there were two known suspects in the attack. One was killed and the other was said to be hospitalized in critical condition.

President Donald Trump was one of many U.S. officials to condemn the attack Sunday, while encouraging Jews to "celebrate proudly -- be proud of who you are," according to Fox News.

Trump also praised a Muslim bystander who reportedly charged one of the gunmen and took his gun away before being shot himself, apparently by another gunman. The man, identified as 43-year-old Ahmed Al Ahmed, can be see in dramatic news video rushing one of the shooters and wrestling the gun away, then pointing it at the man he disarmed.

"Very, very brave person, who went and frontally attacked one of the shooters and saved a lot of lives," Trump said. "Very brave person, right now in the hospital, wounded. Great respect to the man that did that."

Meanwhile, San Diego County's Jewish community was carrying on with various holiday celebrations beginning Sunday.

Chabad La Costa is hosting an event in Encinitas on Sunday with a block party, music, arts and crafts, dreidels, doughnuts, latkes and games at 4 p.m.

The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center held 1-mile, 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer runs Sunday morning, with festivities continuing with a 2025 Hanukkah Happening to celebrate 80 years of the JCC. The family-friendly activities include a Dreidel Palooza, Shine & Design Craft Station and the Hanukkah Makers Lab, games, gelt, dreidels, snacks, crafts and music at 4126 Executive Drive.

At 4 p.m., Chabad of Poway will host its "Chanukah Train & Community Celebration" at Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road. The steam locomotive at the park is transforming into a Hanukkah train giving rides, and the event will feature latkes and donuts, crafts, chocolate gelt, a menorah lighting, giveaway driedels, music and more.

At 4:15 p.m. Sunday, The Hotel del Coronado will host a menorah lighting to celebrate Hanukkah, hosted by the Chabad of Coronado. The nightly event will continue through Dec. 21 at 1500 Orange Ave.

At 5 p.m., Liberty Station, in partnership with The Chabads of Downtown San Diego and Pacific Beach, will host a public menorah lighting at the Central Promenade next to the Rady Children's Ice Rink at 2850 Roosevelt Road.

From 5-8 p.m, Seaport Village will partner with the Chabad of Downtown San Diego for a Hanukkah celebration in the Lighthouse District, with an evening of live music, festive performances, and the traditional menorah lighting.

Another event is scheduled Tuesday at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, with live music, menorah lighting, donuts, latkes, and crafts from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 5620 Paseo Del Norte.

A free Hanukkah celebration, lighting of the menorah, family activities and more are set for Wednesday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at The Forum Carlsbad, 1905 Calle Barcelona.

A Hanukkah Under the Stars event is set for 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at AMC Court in the Mission Valley mall.

Congregation Beth Am will hold the symbolic lighting on Thursday from 6-7 p.m. at Del Mar Highlands Town Center, 12925 El Camino Real.