I was horrified to wake up this morning to the news of the murder of a young couple, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, last night outside the Capital Jewish Museum. The pair was leaving the museum after an event for young diplomats sponsored by the American Jewish Committee. My heart goes out to their families and friends, who deserve to be celebrating the couple’s imminent engagement, not mourning their deaths.
I’m also sending love and care to the Jewish community in DC and beyond, including the rabbis who are holding their own communities through this tragedy. It is heartbreaking and terrifying to think about needing to look over our shoulders every time we exit a Jewish event. It shouldn’t be this way.
While we await a complete police investigation, it’s important to be extremely clear: This was an antisemitic act, and violence like this doesn’t help anyone in Palestine or Israel. Video shows the perpetrator yelling “Free, free Palestine” as he is being arrested. Neither anger about the war, nor a desire to support Palestinians justifies this act of violence.
T’ruah has warned repeatedly that violent language can lead to violent action — and we’ve seen that ugly pattern recur both in the region and at home, from all sides. As the Book of Proverbs teaches, “Death and life are in the hands of the tongue.” (18:21) It is not surprising that the violent language that has proliferated since October 7 — including justification of the murder of Jews and Israelis, the dehumanization of Israelis, and calls to “Globalize the Intifada” — have led to someone apparently taking up arms to murder two young people leaving a Jewish event at a Jewish museum. We encourage leaders on all sides of the political spectrum to condemn this brutality, to call out incitement, and to make clear that violence is never the way.
As we mourn, we also fear this tragedy will be manipulated by the far right to criminalize all criticism of Israel in the name of fighting antisemitism. We have to continue to be clear about the difference between antisemitic attacks like this and valid criticism of Israel and Israeli policy — something Israel is subject to just like any other country. Violence such as the horrific murders last night is antisemitic and must not be excused through any political justifications. For a deeper dive into this topic, consult T’ruah’s resource: “Criticism of Israel and Antisemitism: How to Tell Where One Ends and the Other begins.”
The Capital Jewish Museum is devoted to celebrating a vibrant and thriving Jewish life. The museum recently opened an exhibit on the LGBTQ Jewish experience. This institution, and others like it, are critically important for our community and beyond. We will not allow fear to stop us from living a proud and engaged Jewish life.
Zichronam livracha. May Yaron and Sarah’s memories be a blessing.
Rabbi Jill Jacobs (she/her)
CEO, T’ruah