Written by Michael Huling
This morning a ceremony was held in Poway to honor the life of Lori Gilbert Kaye, one of the victims in the Chabad of Poway shooting earlier this year. A Poway street was renamed “Lori Lynn Lane” and will serve as a reminder of her character and encapsulate what Poway is all about.
That’s Lori Kaye’s best friend in the pink dress as a street in Poway is named Lori Lynn Lane as a tribute to the woman who died in the Poway synagogue shooting pic.twitter.com/xLGZsx7QKS
— Ed Lenderman (@EdLendermanKUSI) December 20, 2019
Lori was shot inside the synagogue when she put herself between the shooter and Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein. While Rabbi Goldstein suffered minor injuries, Lori’s bravery unquestionably saved his life. Her selflessness may have cost Lori her life that day, but she will forever be remembered as an incredible person and a standard for the rest of us. On a day where vicious hatred was directed at Jews celebrating Passover at their local synagogue, Lori’s love and righteousness are what must be remembered.
Bob Marley famously said that “the people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off. Why should I?” While the context of Marley’s statement was different from that of Lori’s life-saving sacrifice, the message is precisely the same.
We have a duty to not just honor Lori with a street name, but to remember her actions that day and the decency she exhibited throughout her life. If we really want to ensure that her life was not lost in vain, then we must strive to be the best versions of ourselves. We owe it not just to ourselves, but to our family, friends, and community—and we owe it to Lori.
