Family of Sarah Milgrim Describes Her Courage and Blossoming Love - Faith & Freedom News

Sarah Milgrim’s family is remembering her as a courageous advocate for peace and a devoted partner whose life was tragically cut short last month outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. Sarah, 26, and her boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky, 30—both staffers at the Israeli Embassy—were talking with colleagues after a diplomatic event on expanding humanitarian aid to Gaza when a gunman opened fire. Law enforcement has classified the attack as targeted, noting the suspect repeatedly shouted “Free Palestine” as they took him into custody.

“Sarah Molded Us”
In their first network television interview since the shooting, Sarah’s parents, Nancy and Robert Milgrim, and her older brother, Jacob, reflected on her life, her passion for justice, and the “blossoming love” she shared with Yaron. “She wasn’t against the Palestinians. She wasn’t against the people in Gaza,” Nancy Milgrim said. “She was in all her heart working towards finding a way for everyone to live together peacefully.”

Robert Milgrim emphasized how Sarah’s determination and compassion reshaped their family. “Usually, a parent tries to mold their child. Sarah molded us. She was a stronger person than I ever was,” he shared. “I’m a different person now than before this happened—from learning so much about what Sarah did, her courage, and her striving for peace.”

A Journey of Service and Advocacy
Raised in Johnson County, Kansas, Sarah first traveled to Israel for her bat mitzvah in Jerusalem and returned during college through Tech2Peace, a program uniting Israeli and Palestinian young leaders. After earning her master’s degree in International Affairs from American University, she joined the Israeli Embassy in November 2023 to coordinate delegations and missions. Colleagues describe her as detail-oriented, empathetic, and unwavering in her belief that diplomacy could build bridges across divides.

It was through her embassy work that Sarah met Yaron Lischinsky, a Jerusalem-born researcher at the embassy. Friends say their relationship quickly deepened into partnership: they shared volunteer projects, discussed Middle East policy, and supported one another’s faith journeys—Sarah’s Jewish Reform background and Yaron’s identification with a Messianic Jewish congregation in Jerusalem. Sarah’s father noted, “We saw their love blossom for each other. And we knew how strong it was.”

Only after the shooting did Sarah’s family learn Yaron had purchased an engagement ring, planning to propose during their upcoming trip to meet his family in Jerusalem. “We didn’t know that he was going to propose then,” Mr. Milgrim said. “And the ambassador told us that he knew that he’d bought the ring and was going to present it to her in Jerusalem.”

Community Reactions and Rising Safety Concerns
Sarah’s older brother, Jacob, described the attack as “senseless” and lamented the broader climate of antisemitism that has grown in the United States since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel. Nationwide protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict have sometimes met with violence—most recently, at least 12 people were injured in an attack on a pro-Israel march in Boulder, Colorado, where witnesses reported Molotov cocktails and chants of “Free Palestine.” Echoing his sister’s alleged killer’s words, the suspect shouted “Free, Free Palestine” before police detained him.

“There is nothing more important in Judaism than life and the sanctity of life—and to what end is this fighting and sacrifice? What does it accomplish?” Jacob asked. “Taking my sister…it’s not going to accomplish anything.” For Sarah’s family, the loss transcends personal grief—it underscores fears about targeting Jewish and pro-Israel Americans. “Right now, I’m hurt. I’m too hurt to say it’s anger or frustration,” Robert Milgrim said. “I don’t know what I’m going to feel later on, to be honest.”

Honoring Sarah’s Legacy
Sarah’s parents have announced plans to travel to Israel this fall to meet Yaron’s family and visit his grave. Meanwhile, faith and civic leaders nationwide are calling for unity against hate. A column in the Florida Jewish Journal urged readers to recognize antisemitism as a societal issue, not just a Jewish one, and to combat it through education, advocacy, and solidarity. “We must never let society normalize such antisemitic violence as inevitable or routine,” the column stated, warning that tolerating hate speech endangers all communities.

People of conscience—including civic organizations, faith communities, and educational institutions—are being encouraged to partner with Jewish groups to ensure that “Jewish lives are not seen as less worthy of grief or justice.” The piece stressed that Sarah and Yaron’s memories should spur collective action: “We cannot be deterred. We must stand taller in our identity. We will turn our pain into purpose.”

Moving Forward
Sarah Milgrim exemplified a life dedicated to service, peace-building, and cross-cultural understanding. From her days at Tech2Peace to her role coordinating humanitarian missions for the Israeli Embassy, she sought inclusive solutions that honored all people’s dignity. Her family hopes her legacy inspires others to bridge divides and to confront antisemitism—and all forms of hatred—relentlessly.