AJC Statement Marking One Year Since Murders of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky

One year after the horrific murders of Sarah Milgrim (z"l) and Yaron Lischinsky (z"l) outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., following an American Jewish Committee (AJC) ACCESS D.C. Young Diplomats reception, we continue to mourn the loss of these two bright and caring people and the future stolen from them and their loved ones.

The attack spread fear throughout the Jewish community across the world. It was a direct assault on the values we cherish as Americans and as Jews. The Young Diplomats reception focused on humanitarian diplomacy, bringing Israelis and Palestinians together, and working to build a more interconnected Middle East. Though our hearts are broken, AJC honors Sarah and Yaron by pressing forward in pursuit of this mission.

"The antisemitic, hate-filled attack that took Sarah and Yaron's lives - and the future they were to share - was meant to intimidate, to instill fear, and send a signal that publicly participating in Jewish life comes at a cost," said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. "But giving into that fear would be a disservice to Sarah and Yaron's memories. In Jewish tradition, memory carries responsibility. To remember is not only to speak their names, it is to honor those we have lost through action. Sarah and Yaron believed in bringing people together across differences, borders, and identities-we cannot let the hatred that took this beautiful couple from us intimidate us or sow further division. Instead, we will be proud Jews who continue to carry forward their legacy by choosing engagement over withdrawal and hope for a better future over fear."

Sarah-a beloved member of the AJC-Mimouna Michael Sachs Fellowship for Emerging Leaders and lay leader of AJC ACCESS, AJC's Young Professional Division-was a warm, compassionate leader dedicated to leaving the world better than she found it. Committed to both sustainability and peacebuilding, her passion for a Middle East rooted in coexistence and understanding guided her work at the Israeli embassy at an extremely difficult and tumultuous time. Even knowing these difficulties, Sarah continued to pursue opportunities to bring people together through dialogue and shared experience.

Yaron, like Sarah, was passionate about building a better, more connected, and peaceful future. A dedicated Israeli Embassy staff member who focused on Middle East issues, Yaron was a friend and valued partner to AJC, who we remember as someone who always had a smile on his face. Yaron brought a deep sincerity to this work, one that allowed for genuine, meaningful relationships to develop alongside honest dialogue. He was planning to propose to Sarah on the couple's upcoming trip to Israel.

As we continue the work of building bridges and a more interconnected Middle East, we are bolstered by Sarah and Yaron's wholehearted resolve and ability to bring people together.

While nothing can or will bring them back or erase the pain of this loss, we remain grateful for the diligence with which the Department of Justice has pursued the prosecution of this murderous hate crime.

Justice in this case cannot be reached solely through the courts, it must also be accompanied by a societal response to the hate and danger facing the Jewish community. In 2025, three people in the United States were murdered in attacks targeting the Jewish community: Sarah and Yaron in Washington, D.C., and Karen Diamond (z"l) just a few weeks later in Boulder, CO. These incidents, along with the arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's home left 91% of American Jews feeling less safe as a Jew in the United States. This violence followed a constant stream of protests that demonized Jews and Israelis in the wake of the October 7, 2023, terror attack - the deadliest attack against Jews since the Holocaust. AJC has and continues to warn that when left unchecked, this dangerous, antisemitic rhetoric can and does lead to violence.

As dangerous conspiracies and American's growing distrust in our government and their neighbors continue to spread, we see our society fracturing and political violence on the rise. Fighting this must be recognized and acted on as a shared, nationwide responsibility.

Today, we mourn with Sarah and Yaron's families, their friends, and all who loved them. May their memories be a blessing and continue to strengthen our shared resolve.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, creating trusted partnerships with leaders around the world to ensure Jews and Israel are safe and thriving. Through 40 offices and dozens of partnerships with Jewish communities worldwide, AJC engages leaders in more than 110 countries, empowering those in government, education, partner communities, and the private sector to counter antisemitism and act as allies. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.

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