Lori Gilbert-Kaye

On April 27, 2019, the last day of Passover, Lori Gilbert Kaye went to services at Chabad of Poway to say the memorial prayer for her mother. Her husband, a physician, was beside her. A gunman walked in with a rifle and opened fire on 54 worshippers. Lori was killed. Her husband dropped to the floor to start CPR on a victim and realized it was his wife. The rabbi was shot in both hands. An 8-year-old girl and her uncle were wounded.

Friends who had known Lori since second grade remember a woman who never sent one birthday card when she could send four and who was first at the door with food whenever anyone was sick. Her Facebook page was a running list of fundraisers for people in need. The last one she posted was raising money for a charity that serves critically ill children. After she was killed, strangers filled it with condolences.

Her killer admitted he chose that synagogue because he hated Jews. He was sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole — once in state court, once in federal court. Prosecutors set aside the death penalty to secure that certainty for these victims. California's proposed early-release regulations puts that certainty back in doubt.