Vice President Mike Pence visited the Chabad of Poway and its rabbi Thursday during an unannounced stop on his tour of San Diego – marking 75 days since a gunman opened fire inside the synagogue, killing one and injuring three others.

At 5:15 p.m., Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence walked into the synagogue on Chabad Way and were greeted by Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein.

Goldstein’s finger was blown off in the April shooting, and the rabbi could still be seen wearing blue bandages around his hands Thursday.

“We had to come,” Pence said to Goldstein as he walked in. The rabbi could be seen giving the vice president a hug.

Goldstein described the shooting to Pence, pointing to where the gunman opened fire, where Lori Gilbert-Kaye was killed, and where worshippers had to flee.

Karen & I were honored to stop by the Chabad of Poway, the site of a terrible shooting in April. To Rabbi Goldstein—your faith & courage is an inspiration to the nation. No one should fear in a house of worship. We will always condemn evil acts of antisemitism. We are with you! pic.twitter.com/mwRYVUwVHB

— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) July 12, 2019

“I was looking down the barrel of a rifle, right here in my home,” Goldstein said. “I heard children playing behind me.”

Among the child playing was Goldstein’s 4-year-old granddaughter, which the rabbi said was the most “chilling” part of the attack.

Vice President Pence made an unannounced stop to the Chabad of Poway, where one person was killed and three were injured in an anti-Semitic attack in April. Rabbi Goldstein was thrilled to see him. He recounted the harrowing day & gave a blessing to the couple and the president. pic.twitter.com/qi40gcGNAW

— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) July 12, 2019

The rabbi blessed the vice president and the second lady with a traditional Jewish blessing and gave them each a dollar to put into a charity box, which was another tradition at the synagogue.

Pence told Goldstein that his “faith and courage had inspired the nation.”

During his trip to San Diego, @VP Mike Pence stopped at the Chabad of Poway and met with Rabbi Goldstein.

Details: https://t.co/f7r8nzUVi6 pic.twitter.com/yJzjPn8Bgj

— KUSI News (@KUSINews) July 12, 2019

“You built a bridge from the White House to our house,” Goldstein said. “This is why the Jewish people feel so at home in America.”

Goldstein met President Donald Trump at the National Day of Prayer service in May. Trump also called the rabbi shortly after the shooting to send his condolences.

(Source: NBC7)