April 27 2019
Passover 2019
Passover 2019 was a very delightful and enjoyable eight days of celebration
Passover is usually celebrated with family and friends, passover 2019 ended on the last day being Saturday, the last day of Passover is dedicated to the future and as much as the first seven days is dedicated towards history bearing witness to the exodus that occurred 3300 years ago
On the last day of Passover we read a specific prophecy from Isaiah that prophesies is the future of the world in the Masonic Times when the Messiah will arrive and will introduce a new world order, We are the lion and Lamb will lie together, and there will be peace throughout the world, no more hunger no more wars, No more jealousy etc.
I woke up that morning extremely excited and motivated in preparing for this final day of Passover in addition to reading the prophecy it’s also one of the four days a year that there is a memorial service where we memorialize the souls of the departed.
At 9:30 in the morning I went to the mikva to immerse myself in the holy waters of the ritual bath to attain a greater level of holiness in preparation for this auspicious happy and meaningful day.
Prayer services begin at 10:00 AM I begin leading services as members begin to arrive around 11 o’clock we begin reading from the Torah, my son-in-law rabbi schneur Polter was the leader and reader of the Torah, and my son Rabbi Shuie Goldstein was standing on his side assisting. halfway through to Torah reading I noticed my other Son Rabbi Mendel Goldstein having a conversation with Mrs Lori kaye.
I then wanted to personally greet Mrs. Lori Kaye and to freshen up as I would be on stage leading services for the next 35 to 45 minutes, leading into reading of the prophecy giving a sermon as an introduction to the memorial service , and lead the memorial service, and the rest of the prayer service.
As I left the sanctuary I met Mrs. Lori Kaye in the lobby entrance, we can read it to each other as she told me she came to participate in the memorial services as she has recently lost her mother of which I officiate at her passing.
She inquired as to what time will the memorial services begin, I told her in about 15 minutes we smiled at each other and I excuse myself to go to my office to freshen up.
Leaving my office going down the hallway I once again that Mrs. Lori Kaye in the lobby we both smiled at each other and I told her that I will be going to the banquet hall to wash my hands.
As I turned around walk towards the sink into banquet hall, I heard four loud noises I turned around I saw terrorist/Gunman in the lobby , I could no longer see this Mrs Lori Kaye
I see the terrorist Aiming his rifle on me, he lifts it up, I hear children playing behind me in the banquet hall, I know my granddaughters are playing in the playground which is right outside the banquet hall
I turn around instinctively and begin running towards where the children are to bring them to safety.
As I begin running towards the banquet hall I see the children into banquet hall are leaving towards the playground, as I run towards the playground I realize that the terrorist had shot me
In both of my hands, I did not feel any pain I kept on running to the playground I scooped up my oldest granddaughter Moussia Goldstein age 4 and brought her to safety to her home
As I scooped her up, She looked at me with Terror struct Face, just like the pictures I have seen from the holocaust face has little kids were terrorized by the Nazis as they were separated from their parents.
Once I brought her and other children to safety I instinctively ran back to the temple to the line of fire to see if I can save others.
This was very daunting, Terrifying, Petrifying fearing the worst, vet that gunman/terrorist has succeeded in killing everyone, however when I approached the lobby both of my fingers bleeding profusely, I saw a woman lying on the floor unconscious, Did not see any blood, I looked at her and did not recognize the face, I did not know that this was Mrs. Lori Kaye
I went to look into this sanctuary, at first the most frightening seen, I could not see anyone I thought everyone was dead I turned around and saw some people in the lobby trying to reach 911, I saw a doctor Gil hovering over Lori trying to administer first aid.
I immediately went into their reception office to use the landline to call 911, it was then that I realized that might index finger is non-functional and they had to use my other fingers to dial 911, I was frustrated when 911 with not answer, I was shouting, trying repeatedly to get the 911 to answer, when finally they answered I was put on hold, then I saw officer first responder walk into the lobby, I no longer felt abandoned, isolated by society who I thought had no clue of the slaughtered that just occurred
I go into the lobby and i asked does anyone know where the terrorist is, I was getting mixed answers, some said he was still in the building hiding, some said he fled in a car
Someone wrapped both my hands with two prayer shawls.
I was looking to where the country concert and I found a group huddling in the front
I grabbed a chair and I stood on the chair with both of my hands bleeding profusely and I gave a sermon:
“in every generation the rise up against us just like we just read during to passover seder
And God always comes to save us, today once again they tried to rise up against us and God has saved us. I asked everyone to be strong, into shout out with me “am yisroel Chai”
I didn’t heard a loud sound from the lobby which was a flying table, dr. Howard K came to assist with the injured who at first and not recognize it was his wife, when he checked her pulse and recognized it was her he through the table and fainted in aghast and unbelief.
The paramedics arrived, and insisted that I come with them to the hospital, I was reluctant I wanted to stay with my congregation, I did not realize the severity of my wounds,
I saw my wife and children approaching and are you sure time that we are all OK.
What happened top the terrorist:
What I have learned was that the terrorist have to shooting for shots on Lori Kaye killing her instantly, he turned his gun on me and the children shot an additional four rounds
He thought he killed me, he then turned his gun towards the sanctuary with another two rounds, my son-in-law who is leading services was on them Center podium when the rounds flew over his head stricking his kipah, and the other one shattering he room divider and some shrapnel hitting my son-in-law and his back,
Mr. Oscar an army veteran usually sits in the front of the sanctuary, this morning for no explanation decided to sit in the back row , when he heard the first rounds of gunfire he instinctively would run to cover, has he begin running for cover he changed course and rain towards the lobby with the gunman was, in bagan shouting as loud as he can to startle the shooter/Terrorist who couldn’t figure out how to change his magazines, the shooter miraculously retreated and left the lobby.
Mr. Jhonothan Marelis he border patrol agent comes just a few times a year from a three hour ride from his hometown brawly California to services was there that morning, when he heard the gun fire, Dr. Howard K who always kept his personal pistol with him in his prayer back past the pistol to Jonathan, jhonothan went in pursuit of the shooter, when he saw him entering his car she took him and shot on the Driver side window to stop the terrorist in his way, the bullet ricocheted, he shot another few rounds has the car was leaving to only have the bullets ricochet.
The terrorist eventually drove about 2 miles pulled into a parking lot, and surrendered to the police.
As much tragedy has occurred many more miracles has occurred
The terrorist was planning on duplicating the massacre that just happened in New Zealand add where the terrorist killed everyone, the terrorist in New Zealand or a go pro camera and that livestream the massacre, the terrorist that came to our temple had the same intentions, he came prepared with enough rounds to kill everyone, he also came with a go pro camera
To also livestream it, but apparently cannot figure out how to make that happen.
The terrorist posted on Facebook a manifesto of his intentions and his anti-Semitic
, hate to the Jewish nation. By the time he’s manifesto was reported to authorities the massacre has already occurred at our temple.
Oscar reported that when he entered the lobby he saw a chair being hurled at the shooter
No one has yet to come forward to claim responsibility.
Our Grandson 1 years old , was in his wheeled bassinet, Left in the lobby, Someone pushed it into the banquet hall, was miraculously saved from the line of fire, no one has come forward to claim responsibility of moving to carriage, Some think this may have been Lori Kaye with a premonition to save his life.
This was the last day of Passover, a day of redemption in miracles come at this massacre could have been so much worse, we are grateful for the miracles that was revealed on that day
We are terribly saddened by the trash etc. loss of Mrs. Lori Kaye, I’ve blessed memory,
The shrapnel that hurts the little girls in the sanctuary and to others that were hurt physically, emotionally, spiritually.
The loss of my two fingers Will always be a reminder of the miracle that occurred to me and my family that day , king David wrote in the book of psalms :” I did not die so I can tell the wonders of g-d”
My life was saved miraculously so that I can tell the story and be an inspiration to others especially those who survived mass shootings and other tragedies.
I am here for you in heart and soul, Please feel free to reach out.