JERUSALEM – Yaron Lishinsky, a staff member at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., who was killed in an antisemitic shooting alongside his partner Sarah Milgram z”l, will be buried in Israel later today. The couple was murdered as they exited a Jewish community event near the city’s Jewish Museum.
A Soldier of Israeli Diplomacy
In a statement, the Israeli Embassy mourned the loss, saying: “Yaron and Sarah were our colleagues and our friends. They were in the prime of their lives.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called the shooting a “shocking act of terror” and ordered Israeli diplomatic missions around the world to lower their flags to half-mast. Sa’ar also spoke directly with Lischinsky’s father, telling him: “Your son fell as a soldier of Israeli diplomacy.”
A Life of Purpose and Service
Lischinsky, 30, immigrated to Israel from a Christian background at age 16, served in the Israel Defense Forces, and dedicated his professional life to promoting Israel abroad. At the time of his death, he worked in the Embassy’s Political Department, specializing in Middle East research.
His partner, Sarah Milgram, was part of the embassy’s Public Diplomacy Division, focusing on building ties between Israel and the American Jewish community.
Arrival and Burial in Israel
This afternoon, Lischinsky’s coffin will arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, where it will be received in a private ceremony attended by family members and representatives of the Foreign Ministry. Per the family’s wishes, the event will be closed to the press and no photographers will be permitted.
Attack Details and Arrest
The attack occurred Wednesday night (local time), when a gunman opened fire on attendees leaving a Jewish outreach event. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” before firing. He was arrested at the scene. U.S. officials have labeled the shooting an act of antisemitic terror, part of a rising global wave of anti-Jewish violence following the escalation in Gaza.
