THE rabbi who was wounded after a gunman opened fire inside a synagogue near San Diego on a major Jewish holiday has spoken out about anti-Semitism.

Saturday’s attack, in which one person died and three others were wounded, came six months after 11 people were killed at a Pittsburgh synagogue in the deadliest assault on Jews in US history.

After getting out of surgey Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who leads Congregation Chabad in the town of Poway, told CNN: “This has to stop. The constitution of the United States guarantees freedom and religion for all faith.

“You know, we’re so lucky and fortunate to live in a country that protects our rights to live as proud Jews.

“We’re still recovering from the Holocaust. We found a haven to live as free people and yet, we’re being mowed down like animals like we’re Nazi Germany. And this has to stop.

“But you know what? We’re not going to be intimidated or deterred. Terror will not win and as Americans, we can’t and won’t cower in the face of this senseless hate of what’s called anti-Semitism.”

Lori Kaye, 60, of Poway was killed, Rabbi Yonah Fradkin, executive director of Chabad of San Diego County, said in a statement.

Those injured in the shooting on Saturday were Goldstein, Noya Dahan, eight, and Almog Peretz, 34, he said.

The three who were wounded were in a stable condition, he added.

“In the face of senseless hate we commit to live proudly as Jews in this glorious country,” Fradkin said.

“We strongly believe that love is exponentially more powerful than hate. We are deeply shaken by the loss of a true woman of valour, Lori Kaye, who lost her life solely for living as a Jew.”

The gunman, identified as 19-year-old John Earnest, used an AR-type assault weapon in the attack.

Earnest has no criminal record, but investigators were looking into a claim he made an online manifesto about setting fire to a nearby mosque in Escondido last month.

Police indicated his gun may have malfunctioned after firing numerous rounds inside the place of worship.

Shortly after fleeing the scene of the crime, Earnest himself called police to report the shooting – then when officers reached the man, he “pulled over, jumped out of his car with his hands up and was immediately taken into custody,” Police Chief David Nisleit said.

The mayor of Poway, who tweeted that he got a call from President Donald Trump offering help in the aftermath of the attack, denounced what he called a hate crime.

“I want you know this is not Poway,” Mayor Steve Vaus said.

“We always walk with our arms around each other and we will walk through this tragedy with our arms around each other.”

And Democratic governor Gavin Newsom said he joins the community in grief.

“No one should have to fear going to their place of worship, and no one should be targeted for practising the tenets of their faith,” he said.