{{Short description|Orthodox synagogue in Poway, California}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Chabad of Poway | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | map_type = USA California San Diego County | map_size = 250 | map_alt = | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location in [[San Diego County]] | coordinates = {{coord|33.0191|-117.0531|type:landmark_region:US-CA|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | religious_affiliation = [[Orthodox Judaism]] | locale = | location = 16934 Chabad Way, [[Poway]], [[San Diego County]], [[California]] 92064 | country = United States | organisational_status = <!-- or | organizational_status = --> | status = [[Synagogue]] | functional_status = Active | heritage_designation = | ownership = | governing_body = | leadership = | patron = | religious_features_label = | religious_features = | architect = | architecture_type = | architecture_style = | founded_by = {{ubl|Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein|Devorie Goldstein}} | funded_by = | general_contractor = | established = 1986 {{small|(as a congregation)}} | groundbreaking = | year_completed = 1997 | construction_cost = | date_demolished = <!-- or | date_destroyed = --> | facade_direction = | capacity = 770 worshippers | length = | width = | width_nave = | interior_area = | height_max = | inscriptions = | materials = | elevation_m = <!-- or | elevation_ft = --> | elevation_footnotes = | nrhp = | designated = | added = | refnum = | footnotes = | website = {{URL|chabadpoway.com}} }} '''Chabad of Poway''' is an [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[synagogue]] and community center in [[Poway, California]]. The congregation was founded in 1986, and the synagogue, completed in 1997, includes a 770-seat sanctuary, preschool, afternoon Hebrew school, senior center, library, and [[mikveh]], serving the Jewish communities of Poway and [[Rancho Bernardo, San Diego|Rancho Bernardo]].
On April 27, 2019, the synagogue was the site of [[Poway synagogue shooting|a shooting]] in which one person was killed and three were injured.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/27/us/poway-synagogue-shooting.html|title=One Dead in Synagogue Shooting Near San Diego, Officials Say|last1=Mele|first1=Christopher|date=April 27, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 27, 2019|last2=Murphy|first2=Heather|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5579168/shooting-california-synagogue/|title=1 Dead, 3 Injured in Shooting at California Synagogue|last=Law|first=Tara|date=April 27, 2019|magazine=Time|language=en|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref>
==History== [[File:Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein (cropped).jpg|right|upright|thumb|Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein in 2010]] Chabad of Poway was founded in 1986 by Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, a 24-year-old [[Shaliach (Chabad)|shaliach]] from [[Brooklyn]], New York, and his new wife Devorie.<ref name=sht>{{cite web |url=http://www.shturem.org/index.php?section=news&id=3182|title=Sheriff's chaplain|first=Andrew|last=Good|date=February 3, 2006|accessdate=April 28, 2019|work=Shturem.org}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=gala>{{cite web |url=https://collive.com/poway-chabad-celebrates-25/#.XMUXf-gza6U|title=Poway Chabad Celebrates 25|date=June 21, 2011|accessdate=April 28, 2019|work=COLLive}}</ref> The congregation first met in a storefront in the [[Rancho Bernardo, San Diego|Rancho Bernardo]] shopping center, and then moved to a one-acre site where it opened a [[preschool]] in mobile trailers.<ref name=gala/> A senior center was opened in 1990.<ref name=gala/>
In 1997, the synagogue built a {{cvt|20000|sqft}} community center containing a 770-seat sanctuary, preschool, afternoon Hebrew school, senior center, library, [[mikveh]], and meeting rooms.<ref name=gala/><ref name=lat>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-san-diego-synagogue-shooting-victims-20190427-story.html|title=Rabbi gives sermon of strength after being shot at Poway synagogue|first1=Kristina|last1=Davis|first2=J. Harry|last2=Jones|first3=Sarah|last3=Parvini|date=April 27, 2019|accessdate=April 28, 2019|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> Shluchim Rabbi Mendy and Bluma Rubenfeld joined the staff of Chabad of Poway in 2005.<ref name=gala/> In 2006, Goldstein was named the Jewish chaplain for the Poway Sheriff's Department.<ref name=sht/>
In 2010, the synagogue enhanced its security measures by applying for and receiving a $75,000 grant from the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA). It used the funds to add "security systems and alarms, a security assessment and installation of 16 cameras, fencing and lighting".<ref name=ap/> In May 2018, the synagogue applied for a $150,000 FEMA grant to install gates and more secure doors. This grant was approved in September 2018, but the funds were not released until March 2019, one month before the shooting.<ref name=ap>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Poway-Synagogue-Just-Got-Money-to-Improve-Security-AP-509377271.html|title=AP Exclusive: Poway Synagogue Just Got Money to Improve Security|first1=Julie|last1=Watson|first2=Doug|last2=Thompson|date=May 2, 2019|accessdate=May 9, 2019|work=NBC San Diego}}</ref>
=== Goldstein charged for tax and wire fraud === On July 14, 2020, Goldstein pleaded guilty to tax and wire fraud for allegedly misusing at least $6.2 million in contributions and donations to the Chabad of Poway. According to a charge sheet filed in the [[United States District Court for the Southern District of California]], Goldstein and five others had participated in elaborate tax fraud schemes using the synagogue's charitable status since the mid-1980s.<ref name="elaborate">{{cite news|last1=Garske|first1=Monica|date=14 July 2020|title=Rabbi Shot in Poway Synagogue Attack Pleads Guilty to Elaborate Tax Fraud Scheme: US Atty.|work=KNSD aka NBC 7 San Diego|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/rabbi-shot-in-poway-synanogue-attack-pleads-guilty-to-tax-fraud-docs/2365089/|accessdate=15 July 2020}}</ref> In one scheme, Goldstein re-routed tax-deductible donations to the synagogue back to the donors, keeping a portion for himself. He also [[Money laundering|laundered]] illicit gains through the purchase of gold coins.<ref name="elaborate" /> The [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] and [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] began investigating the case in 2016 and Goldstein reportedly was planning to plead guilty to the charges in October 2018.<ref name="elaborate" /> After making his guilty plea in 2020, Goldstein returned $1 million in gold coins to the government and will be expected to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the IRS. The district attorney's office said it would recommend probation rather than a maximum five-year prison sentence, due to Goldstein's cooperation with investigators and his "lifetime of service" to the synagogue and community.<ref name="elaborate" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Stone|first1=Ken|date=14 July 2020|title=Chabad of Poway's Wounded Rabbi Pleads Guilty to Years of Tax, Wire Fraud|work=Times of San Diego|url=https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2020/07/14/chabad-of-poways-wounded-rabbi-pleads-guilty-to-years-of-tax-wire-fraud/|accessdate=15 July 2020}}</ref> However, the judge rejected that punishment "as not appropriate given the severity of the crimes", and sentenced Goldstein to 14 months in jail.<ref>[https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2022-01-04/chabad-rabbi-sentenced Former Chabad of Poway rabbi gets prison in fraud schemes]. Kristina Davis, Jan. 4, 2022, [[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]</ref>
Upon learning of the case in late 2019, the synagogue removed Goldstein from his rabbinical position and the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters in [[Crown Heights, Brooklyn|Crown Heights]], New York, "dismissed him from his position as a representative of the movement".<ref>{{cite web|author=Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters|date=July 14, 2020|title=Statement|url=https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4810208/jewish/Statement.htm|accessdate=July 16, 2020|work=Chabad.org}}</ref> In November 2019, Goldstein's son, Rabbi Mendel Goldstein, took over the day-to-day rabbinic duties of the congregation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sridhar|first=Priya|date=November 14, 2019|title=Chabad Of Poway Rabbi Steps Down|url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/2019/nov/14/chabad-poway-rabbi-steps-down/|accessdate=December 8, 2019|work=[[KPBS (TV)]]}}</ref>
==Shooting== {{main|Poway synagogue shooting}} On April 27, 2019, John Earnest, a 19-year-old male from the [[San Diego]] suburb of [[Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego|Rancho Peñasquitos]], entered the synagogue building during services on the last day of the Jewish [[Passover]] holiday and opened fire in the foyer.<ref name=who>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Who-Is-John-T-Earnest-Suspect-in-Poway-Synagogue-Shooting-509166781.html|title=Who Is John T. Earnest? Suspect in Poway Synagogue Shooting|publisher=KNSD|first=Tom|last=Jones|date=April 27, 2019}}</ref><ref name=guardian>{{cite news |last1=Lartey |first1=Jamiles |title=San Diego synagogue shooting: one dead and three injured |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/27/san-diego-police-shooting-synagogue-poway-reports |accessdate=April 27, 2019 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> One woman, 60-year-old Lori Gilbert-Kaye, was killed and three other people were wounded, including Goldstein.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/poway-synagogue-shooting-san-diego-sheriffs-detain-man-today-2019-04-27-live-updates |title=Woman killed, 3 injured in shooting at California synagogue |website=[[CBS News]] |date=April 27, 2019 |accessdate=April 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/suspect-reportedly-detained-after-opening-fire-near-san-diego-synagogue-1.7170623|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427224752/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/suspect-reportedly-detained-after-opening-fire-near-san-diego-synagogue-1.7170623|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 27, 2019|title=Gunman Opens Fire Near San Diego Synagogue; One Killed, Three Wounded|agency=Associated Press|date=April 28, 2019|accessdate=April 28, 2019|work=[[Haaretz]]}}</ref> According to witnesses, Gilbert-Kaye had tried to shield Goldstein from the gunfire.<ref name=cnn>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/28/us/california-synagogue-shooting-victims/index.html|title=She was at the synagogue to mourn her mother. She was killed while protecting the rabbi|first1=Faith|last1=Karimi|first2=Hollie|last2=Silverman|date=April 28, 2019|accessdate=April 28, 2019|work=[[CNN]]}}</ref> The shooter's gun jammed after releasing ten bullets<ref>Julia Wick, Sarah Parvini & Doug Smith, [https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rabbi-synagogue-gunman-poway-hate-20190428-story.html Rabbi says synagogue gunman’s weapon jammed, preventing 'a blood bath'], ''Los Angeles Times'' (April 28, 2019).</ref> and two congregants, one an off-duty [[United States Border Patrol]] officer, chased him out of the building.<ref name=nbc/><ref name="Meet">{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Ryan W. |last2=Plevin |first2=Rebecca |title=Meet the Army Veteran and Off-Duty Border Patrol Agent who Chased the San Diego Synagogue Shooter|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/04/29/san-diego-synagogue-shooting-army-vet-border-patrol-agents-heroes/3614409002/ |accessdate=April 30, 2019 |newspaper=USA Today|date=April 29, 2019}}</ref> A short while later, Earnest called [[9-1-1|911]] and reported the shooting.<ref name=guardian /> He was apprehended approximately {{cvt|2|mi}} from the synagogue.<ref name=nbc>{{cite news |title=1 Dead, 3 Injured in Synagogue Shooting in Poway, Deputies Detain Suspect|first1=Andrew|last1=Johnson|first2=R.|last2=Stickney|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/poway-synagogue-shooting-chabad-way-san-diego-sherrifs-department-509162631.html|publisher=KNSD|date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> The suspect had an [[AR-15 style rifle|AR-style rifle]] in his possession at the time of his arrest and had made many [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] and [[Islamophobia|Islamophobic]] comments.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/27/717849871/injuries-reported-in-shooting-at-california-synagogue |title=At Least 1 Killed In California Synagogue Shooting |work=[[NPR]] |first=Shannon|last=Van Sant|date=April 27, 2019 |accessdate=April 27, 2019}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
{{Synagogues in the United States}}
[[Category:Chabad houses]] [[Category:Chabad in the United States]] [[Category:Poway, California]] [[Category:Religious buildings and structures in San Diego County, California]] [[Category:Orthodox synagogues in California]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1986]] [[Category:1986 establishments in California]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1997]] [[Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States]]