Sarah Milgrim, Israel embassy employee murdered in DC last week, mourned by family and friends in America’s heartland

Sarah Milgrim, one of two Israeli Embassy workers murdered last week in an antisemitic terror attack at an event for young Jewish diplomats, was mourned at a funeral service at Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park on Tuesday, less than a week after her death. 

The funeral service was a private affair, attended by family and friends, with remarks by local rabbis, Jewish leaders, and Milgrim's boss at the embassy, Sawsan Hasson. 

The 26-year old Sarah Milgrim had only recently joined the Israeli embassy, starting shortly before the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, just like her boyfriend and fellow embassy worker, Yaron Lischinsky. 

The two were just leaving a reception at the Capital Jewish Museum when they were shot to death by 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, who shouted “Free Palestine” as he was being arrested. 

Rabbi Doug Alpert, who spoke at the funeral, did not mention Rodriguez’ name. Instead, he spoke of the “horrible disservice” the killer had done by choosing "to not see her for who she was and all she had done to further peace with courage and dignity.” 

Rabbi Alpert first told several memories of Sarah’s childhood, which her parents had related to him, including her love of animals, which had led her to be a vegetarian for most of her childhood. 

But, addressing the growing antisemitism that eventually led to her death, Rabbi Alpert shared how Sarah faced backlash from friends and acquaintances after she decided to start working at the Israeli embassy, even before the start of the Gaza War. 

Sarah was no stranger to antisemitism. In 2014, a white supremacist and former Ku Klux Klan leader, shot and killed three people outside a Jewish center in Overland Park. During his trial, the killer had said he only wanted “to kill Jews, not to kill people.” 

Three years later, while a student Shawnee East Mission High School in Prairie Village, Kansas, someone spray painted swastikas on the school campus. Then a senior, Sarah told the local news station, "You know, I worry about going to my synagogue and now I have to worry about safety at my school, and that shouldn’t be a thing.” 

The antisemitism she witnessed did not stop Sarah, though. According to her supervisor at the embassy, Sawsan Hasson, “Sarah transformed her deep concern about the rise of antisemitism and anti-Zionism into courageous action. And it is that very hatred that took her from us on her own homeland soil.” 

“This morning, you and Yaron were meant to be in Israel, celebrating with his family,” Hasson said. “Instead, through an unthinkable tragedy, you have brought Israel here to Kansas to meet your own loving family in your hometown. Somehow, even in your passing, you have created connection and unity.” 

Speaking to Sarah, Hasson said, “We will carry your torch, Sarah, we will continue your mission. We will speak for those who cannot, and we will defend the truths that you upheld.” 

Sarah and Yaron met when both agreed to work on a media program to expose the horrors of the Oct. 7 attacks. Yaron, who spoke Hebrew fluently, volunteered to join the program, helping to translate and edit difficult videos from the massacres. Sarah, who wanted to combat the rising antisemitism following those attacks met Yaron there, and a relationship quickly blossomed between the two. 

According to Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Yaron had recently bought a ring, and was planning to propose to Sarah during their upcoming trip to Jerusalem. 

While Sarah had brought Yaron to Kansas City for several visits, Sarah had never met Yaron’s family in person. Yaron’s family were excited at the chance to finally meet her, and knew that he was planning to propose to her in the near future. 

Speaking of their relationship, Rabbi Alpert said, “The deep sadness of what has happened is embedded in not just how far the relationship had come, but seeing the potential that the relationship would only continue to grow in the years to come.” 

He spoke of Sarah’s desire to find a peaceful solution to end the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, which she had demonstrated on a trip to Israel, while working on her master’s degree, where she worked at a nonprofit, Tech2Peace, that helps bring young Israelis and Palestinians together for seminars where they can develop skills in technology. 

In fact, on the night they were killed, Milgrim and Lischinsky were attending an event for young diplomats at the Capital Jewish Museum focused on improving humanitarian aid delivery in the Middle East. 

“If you were really interested in creating solutions to this seemingly endless conflict that separates Jews and Muslims, Israelis and Palestinians, you could’ve asked Sarah,” Rabbi Alpert told the synagogue with audible anger in his voice. “And if you really cared, if you’re about more than canceling voices that made you uncomfortable, about more than shouting slogans and waving a gun, then damn it, why didn’t you ask Sarah?” 

“I’d like nothing more – we would like nothing more – right now than to ask Sarah, to talk to Sarah, to learn from such a beacon of light amidst a world of darkness,” Alpert said. “We’ve been cheated out of that opportunity, and for the Milgrim family, cheated out of so much more.” 

“And yet, I believe Sarah’s voice is not lost,” Rabbi Alpert stated in conclusion. “It is our opportunity, our blessing and our obligation to keep her voice alive, to place her voice in our hearts, to follow her courageous path toward building a better world.”