Yaron, Sarah and Ruth’s pledge

The tragic deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim on May 21, 2025, sent shockwaves through Israel and the United States. The gunmen’s motive, to “free Palestine,” quickly revealed this was not a random act of violence but a direct expression of Jew-hatred.

Sarah, a sharp and dedicated Jewish professional from the American heartland, was driven by a desire to contribute positively to the world and to Israel. Yaron, from a devout Christian Israeli family in Jerusalem, served his country both militarily and diplomatically. At global vigils honoring them, signs read: “We are all Yaron and Sarah.” Their layered identities made their deaths deeply personal for American Jews, expatriate Israelis and Christian Zionists. Each group saw its own reflection in the story of their lives and the tragedy of their deaths.

Shared Grief

The attack gave Israeli expatriates a chilling reminder that their nation’s enemies are not confined to the Middle East. Yaron and Sarah were not high-level diplomats targeted for their powerful positions. They were young, idealistic civil servants committed to serving Israel in ways that aligned with their individual educations and backgrounds. Their killer’s intent was to murder any Jewish person or Israeli who crossed his path. 

For American Jews, Yaron and Sarah’s deaths represent the realization of their darkest fears. Being Jewish feels like having a target on one’s back, whether you are a staunch Zionist or a committed peace activist. 

Sarah embodied both. She advocated for building bridges between Israelis and Palestinians while also working to strengthen Jewish identity at home and Israeli security abroad. A humanitarian and environmentalist, Sarah spent a year in Israel fostering dialogue and engagement through tech initiatives, believing deeply in the power of relationships to overcome hate and violence. 

For Christian Zionists, the event resonated profoundly because Yaron’s family is part of the Christian community in Jerusalem. Yaron’s father, Daniel is an Argentinian Israeli Jew, and his mother, Ruth, is a German Christian. They are close church friends with the president of the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem, Dr. Juergen Buehler. Yaron’s father is also a beloved tour guide who leads Hispanic pastors on special tours of Israel, working closely with our organization and many other Christian groups. By all accounts, Yaron was a committed follower of Christ. 

The Enduring Message of Ruth

On June 1, 2025, only one week after Yaron and Sarah’s deaths, the Jewish people celebrated Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks. Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. 

For centuries, Jewish communities have held a special place for the book of Ruth in their Shavuot synagogue services, and for good reason. The story unfolds during the barley and wheat harvest, precisely when Shavuot occurs. It also commemorates when Moses received directly from God’s own hand the covenant, the Ten Commandments and all the laws that were to govern His people. 

By tying the book of Ruth into the anniversary of the giving of the Torah, Jewish tradition recognizes that even those who did not descend from the tribes present at Mount Sinai can still choose to follow the one true God. Ruth was not Jewish. She was a Moabite woman who embraced the Jewish people and aligned her fate with the Israelite nation. Just as the Israelites willingly took on the obligations of the Torah, Ruth willingly embraced the Jewish people and their God. In a way, Ruth may have been the first gentile Zionist. Like all Christians who love Israel, Ruth fully cast her lot with the Jewish people and declared her loyalty to their God. 

Organizations like the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), headquartered in Jerusalem for the last 45 years, embody this commitment through practical expressions of solidarity. Whether assisting Jewish families returning to Israel, helping rebuild communities affected by war, or caring for Holocaust survivors, the heart of Ruth shines through in both word and deed.

Ruth’s immortal pledge to Naomi echoes through the ages. Within these powerful words, we hear the unwavering devotion of those who have cast their lot with the Jewish people. As Christian Zionists, we embrace Ruth’s pledge as our own: 

“Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16 ESV)