Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky were days away from getting engaged when their lives were tragically cut short in a deadly shooting in Washington, D.C. The couple, deeply connected through their work at the Israeli Embassy, had planned a trip to Jerusalem where Lischinsky intended to propose to Milgrim, a detail that only came to light after their deaths.
Milgrim’s parents, from Prairie Village, Kansas, had long known their daughter and Lischinsky shared a strong bond and believed marriage was in their future. Milgrim had joined the Israeli Embassy about a year and a half earlier, organizing delegations and missions, while Lischinsky worked as a researcher. He had met her parents several times and was highly regarded by those who knew him. Milgrim’s father described Lischinsky as passionate, intelligent, and dedicated very much like his daughter.
Just a few months before the tragedy, Sarah told her parents about her upcoming trip to Israel with Yaron to meet his family for the first time. Unbeknownst to them, Yaron had already bought an engagement ring and was planning to propose during that visit. The couple was scheduled to fly to Israel on Sunday, and Milgrim’s mother was preparing to travel from Kansas to Washington to care for their dog, a goldendoodle named Andy.
On the evening of the shooting, news of the deadly attack outside an event at the Capital Jewish Museum began to spread. Sarah’s parents, alerted by news reports and tracking apps, soon realized she was at the location of the incident. An official call from Israel’s ambassador confirmed their worst fears Sarah and Yaron had been killed. The moment was devastating, compounded by a backdrop of rising antisemitism in the U.S. following recent conflicts in the Middle East and political shifts.
Sarah’s father reflected on the painful irony that while they had worried about her safety in Israel, she was murdered just days before the trip. The couple’s dedication to their work and their passion for their causes were evident to friends and colleagues. Yaron, born in Israel, spent part of his youth in Germany before returning to Israel as a teenager. He played youth soccer for Beitar Jerusalem and had long aspired to become a diplomat, a goal he pursued through rigorous studies in international relations and Asian studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Yaron’s upbringing in a multicultural family with a Jewish father and Christian mother shaped his worldview. Although he was a practicing Christian, he identified strongly with the people of Israel and was known for his idealism and efforts to build bridges between cultures, particularly between Israel and countries in Asia. His brother shared that Yaron had considered further diplomatic training and had identified as Jewish at the embassy.
Sarah was equally accomplished and driven. She held a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and master’s degrees from the University of Peace in Costa Rica and American University in Washington, D.C. Her work focused on environmental issues and fostering cooperation on challenging topics like water scarcity between Israelis and Palestinians. Those who worked with her described her as a bridge builder, full of energy and optimism.
Growing up in suburban Kansas City, Sarah experienced firsthand the impacts of antisemitism. The community had been shaken years earlier by a deadly shooting at a local Jewish center, and she recalled incidents of hate, including swastikas defaced at her high school. Despite these challenges, she remained committed to strengthening Jewish identity, participating in programs that connected young Jewish Americans to Israel.
The loss of Sarah and Yaron has deeply affected both their families and the broader community. Their lives were marked by dedication to peace, diplomacy, and bridge-building between cultures. Their untimely deaths serve as a stark reminder of the continuing threats faced by those who work to promote understanding and cooperation in a complex and often divided world.
