They were building a life together—full of promise, purpose, and love. But just days before a planned proposal in Jerusalem, 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky and 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim were fatally shot outside a Washington D.C. museum.
The pair, both employees of Israel’s embassy in the U.S., had attended a diplomatic gathering at the Capital Jewish Museum Wednesday night. What should have been another step in their shared journey turned tragic when a gunman opened fire, reportedly yelling “Free Palestine” before being taken into custody. Authorities later identified the shooter as Elias Rodriguez.
Their deaths have sent shockwaves through diplomatic and Jewish communities in D.C. and beyond.
A spokesperson from the Israeli embassy, Tal Naim, spoke through tears: “Instead of celebrating their union, we are mourning their loss. This pain is indescribable.”
The embassy confirmed their deaths early Thursday, releasing a photo and statement honoring the couple’s passion for diplomacy and peace.
“Yaron and Sarah were not just our colleagues—they were our family,” read the post. “Their absence leaves a hole in our hearts that can never be filled.”
A Promising Future Cut Short
Lischinsky relocated to Washington from Jerusalem in 2022, quickly making a name for himself in diplomatic circles. A former standout student, he once represented Israel at a Model United Nations event in Paris, where he was named “delegate of the week.” On LinkedIn, he described himself as a strong proponent of the Abraham Accords and interfaith cooperation.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, offered words of comfort to Lischinsky’s grieving father: “He was a soldier of diplomacy, lost in the line of service.”
Milgrim had joined the embassy’s public diplomacy team just months earlier, having previously worked with Tech2Peace, an Israeli nonprofit that promotes Israeli-Palestinian dialogue through technology and education.
“Sarah was driven by a deep curiosity and compassion,” the group shared in a tribute. “She believed in bridges, not barriers. Her warmth brought people together.”
Just six months ago, the couple had met Israeli President Isaac Herzog during his visit to Washington. On Thursday, Herzog expressed his sorrow in a post calling them “flowers of our people, taken just before they were to begin a new life together.”
A Ring That Will Never Be Given
In a heartbreaking confirmation, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter revealed the couple was days away from a formal engagement.
“Yaron bought the ring this week,” he said during a press briefing. “He had planned to propose in Jerusalem next week.”
That ring now serves as a haunting reminder of what could have been—a life together, a future stolen in a moment of senseless violence.
