Sarah Milgrim, a devoted Jewish American staff member at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., was one of two young victims murdered in a chilling terror attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Tuesday evening. The attack has stunned the diplomatic and Jewish communities, taking the lives of two promising individuals who had dedicated themselves to building understanding and peace.
Milgrim, 27, worked in the Department of Public Diplomacy at the Embassy of Israel to the United States. She was attending a Young Jewish Professionals event sponsored by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) with her partner, Yaron Lischinsky, a research assistant in Middle East and North African Affairs at the same embassy. The couple was shot at point-blank range by Elias Rodriguez, a keffiyeh wearing, radical activist from Chicago with ties to Marxist and anti-Israel groups.
The two victims were reportedly leaving the museum when Rodriguez, seen pacing outside, opened fire while shouting “Free Palestine.” After the attack, Rodriguez calmly entered the museum, placed his gun on the floor, and demanded “water and a safe space” before being detained by police and museum security. He continued shouting pro-Palestinian slogans during his arrest. Authorities say Rodriguez is affiliated with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and the ANSWER Coalition, groups that have helped coordinate anti-Israel protests nationwide and often collaborate with organizations such as CodePink, AMP, CAIR, and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).
Milgrim and Lischinsky had been dating for over a year and had plans to travel to Jerusalem next week, where Yaron intended to propose. Their senseless murder cut short a shared life of promise and purpose.
In a public statement, the Israeli Embassy expressed the deep sorrow of their colleagues:
“Yaron and Sarah were our friends and colleagues. They were in the prime of their lives. This evening, a terrorist shot and killed them as they exited an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in DC. The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder. No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss. Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time.”
Milgrim was known not only for her intelligence and drive, but for her deep empathy and commitment to peacebuilding. She earned a Master’s in Diplomacy and International Development from American University and another from the UN-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica. She held a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of Kansas. Her work history reflected her values, with positions at Tech2Peace, where she advanced dialogue between Jews and Arabs, and prior roles in environmental research and Jewish community leadership.
On her LinkedIn page, Milgrim wrote:
“My passion lies at the intersection of peacebuilding, religious engagement, and environmental work. While working with Tech2Peace in Tel Aviv, Israel, I conducted comprehensive research on peacebuilding theory, emphasizing grassroots initiatives in the Israeli-Palestinian region. My diverse experiences, including facilitating insightful discussions on geopolitics in Israel and Palestine as a Jewish Educator, and researching an array of environmental topics in India and Central America, reflect my commitment to fostering understanding between different peoples.”
Milgrim’s murder marks not only a personal tragedy, but a symbolic one: a woman who dedicated her life to dialogue and coexistence was silenced by hate. Her story is a reminder of the rising danger that radical ideologies—whether cloaked in slogans or armed with rifles—pose to those working for peace.
Sarah Milgrim will be remembered for her courage, intellect, compassion, and unwavering belief in a better future.
Source link
