Shot when one of the two workers at the Israeli Embassy left the event, Sarah Milgrim worked against peace, hatred and anti-Semitism.
Two Israeli embassy employees murdered at the Jewish museum in Washington, DC
The suspicious archer cried out, “Free Palestine!” When he was arrested at the Jewish Museum in Washington, DC
Aeret Razin says that Sarah Milgrim’s sudden and tragic death not only mourns her dear friend, but is also increasingly wary and angry about anti-Semitism.
Authorities say Milgrim and her boyfriend Jaron Lisinski were shot around 9pm when they left the event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, shouted, “Free Palestine! Free Palestine!” When he was taken into custody, Metropolitan Police Department Prime Minister Pamela Smith said at a press conference. Investigators believe Rodriguez acted alone.
“Testing media interviews is not my regular response to things like this,” Rajn said. “But if this is not a wake-up call, I wouldn’t know what.”
Milgrim helped coordinate meetings and discussions with Lazin, an expert on international law and human rights. He previously served in Israel’s Department of Justice. According to her LinkedIn profile, Milgrim had been working at the Israeli Embassy since November 2023.
Hearing and watching testimonies from victims of anti-Semitism and gender-based violence — could be traumatized by even experienced experts, Razin said. However, Milgrim said, “I felt this was her role in all of this catastrophe that landed on us.” October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Sarah Milgrim: “Light and the Enlightened Man”
Speaking to USA Today via Israel’s Zoom, Razin called Milgrim “the light and the enlightened man.”
“That was her most powerful armor. Her wit, her intelligence, her maturity,” Rajin said.
Milgrim received his master’s degree in international affairs from the American University, earned a master’s degree in natural resources and sustainable development from Peace University and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Kansas.
“The same anti-Semitism that she decided to struggle with Full Force led to the end of her tragic life,” Razin said.
Razin said he didn’t know Lisinski, but he was grateful to hear that her friend was “very happy and in love.”
She smiles as if she grieves
When asked how Sarah Milgrim wanted to be remembered, Razin smiled.
“She entered the room, she glowed, she glowed. That was her strongest power,” she said. “People listened to her. She was calm and polite, using those tools to set the story correctly and bringing facts… She took part in this team in diplomacy rather than her skills, talent, and acts of violence.”
Now that her friends are gone, Razin said he would do so when it comes to returning to Washington, D.C., but that would never feel the same again.
“We’ll meet at the coffee house across from the White House,” Razin said. “I can’t even imagine coming back without being there, but if asked, that’s because it’s her mission.”
Razin warned that more violence against Jews and Israelis would occur if hatred, anti-Semitism and violent rhetoric were not fully accountable. She called the current rise in anti-Semitism, both in the US and abroad, a “dangerous movement.”
“This is not a sporadic act of violence,” she said. It pointed to an increase in attacks on Jews and Israeli people all over the world. “The strong anti-Semitism wave is justified and normalized in the name of free speech. It’s not enough. This is not the last murder. I’m sure it will encourage others to do the same.”
Contribution: Melina Kahn, USA Today
