logo
Shooting victim Sarah Milgrim remembered as 'a light' who fought antisemitism

Shooting victim Sarah Milgrim remembered as 'a light' who fought antisemitism

USA Today22-05-2025
Shooting victim Sarah Milgrim remembered as 'a light' who fought antisemitism One of two Israeli embassy workers shot as they left an event, Sarah Milgrim worked for peace and against hate and antisemitism.
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Two Israeli embassy employees killed at Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
The suspected shooter shouted "free Palestine!" upon his arrest at the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.
Ayelet Razin says the sudden and tragic death of Sarah Milgrim has left her not only mourning her dear friend but also increasingly alarmed and angry about antisemitism.
Authorities say Milgrim and her boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky, were shot at about 9 p.m. as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum. The alleged shooter, identified as Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old from Chicago, yelled "Free Palestine! Free Palestine!" as he was taken into custody, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference. Investigators believe Rodriguez acted alone.
"It's not my regular response to something like this, to do media interviews," Razin said. "But if this isn't a wake-up call, I don't know what is."
Milgrim helped coordinate meetings and discussions with Razin, an expert in international law and human rights, who previously served in Israel's Ministry of Justice, as she worked on Capitol Hill and in Washington to influence U.S. policies on terrorism, accountability and gender-based violence. Milgrim had worked at the Israeli embassy since November 2023, according to her LinkedIn profile.
The work – hearing and seeing testimony from victims of antisemitic and gender-based violence – can be traumatizing to even experienced experts, said Razin. But Milgrim "felt this is her role in all of this catastrophe that landed on us" in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Sarah Milgrim: 'A light and an enlightened person'
Speaking to USA TODAY via Zoom from Israel, Razin called Milgrim "a light and an enlightened person," someone whose presence could instantly lift the people around her.
"That was her most powerful armor: her wit, her intelligence and her maturity," Razin said.
Milgrim, who held a master's degree in international affairs from American University, a master's in natural resources and sustainable development from The University for Peace and a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of Kansas, told Razin she'd joined the embassy staff in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack "after feeling a rise in antisemitism around her, something she hadn't sensed before, or at least not as strongly."
"The same antisemitism she decided to struggle against full-force brought her tragic end of life," Razin said.
Razin said she did not know Lischinsky, but was grateful to hear that her friend was "very happy and in love."
Smiling as she mourns
Asked how she wanted Sarah Milgrim to be remembered, Razin smiled.
"She entered a room and there was a glow, a shine, and that was her strongest force," she said. "People listened to her. She's calm, she was polite, and she used those tools to set the story right, to bring facts ... She joined this team in the embassy to use her skills, her talent, not in acts of violence but in diplomacy."
As for returning to Washington, D.C. now that her friend is gone, Razin said she would, but it would not feel the same ever again.
"We would meet in a coffee house across from the White House," Razin said. "I can't even imagine going back without her there, but if asked to, I will because it's continuing her mission."
Razin warned that more acts of violence against Jewish people and Israelis will occur if those who spread hate, antisemitism and violent rhetoric are not held fully accountable. She called the current rise in antisemitism, both in the U.S. and abroad, "a dangerous movement."
"This is not a sporadic act of violence," she said, pointing to the rising number of attacks on Jewish and Israeli people worldwide. "The strong antisemitic wave is being legitimized and normalized in the name of free speech. Not enough is being done. This is not the last murder. I am sure it will inspire others to do the same."
Contributing: Melina Khan, USA TODAY
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ron Paul slams cruel response to Gaza famine; libertarians oppose starvation!
Ron Paul slams cruel response to Gaza famine; libertarians oppose starvation!

The Hill

time11 minutes ago

  • The Hill

Ron Paul slams cruel response to Gaza famine; libertarians oppose starvation!

It's not only my friends on the left who are concerned about the plight of the innocent civilians in Gaza. Former Rep. Ron Paul, a libertarian Republican revered by non-interventionists for opposing war and speaking out against some of the actions of the Israeli government, is slamming those in the U.S. who are evincing indifference to the suffering of the Gazans. Worse than indifference, at least one member of Congress even indicated that he supports the starvation of the Gazans. That's contemptible. Here is Dr. Paul speaking out, during a podcast with Daniel McAdams of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. 'You know, summarizing what you say, about the hostages, 'release the hostages,' the way I would phrase that, 'do what we say or these are the results, we're gonna starve, starve the little ones.' It's hard for me to accept that as a basic principle, so the people in this country surely ought to be at least thoughtful enough to look at both sides of this. To look at pictures like that and what's going on — the truth is, what happens in these countries, and a lot of bad things happen, it happens with U.S. support, and that means morally we are responsible.' Paul was reacting to a post on X by Rep. Randy Fine, a Republican of Florida. In that post, Fine wrote: 'Release the hostages. Until then, starve away.' And then he added: 'This is all a lie anyway. It amazes me that the media continues to regurgitate Muslim terror propaganda.' Now look, I have seen it suggested that not all the images of Gazan children starving that have been circulated in the media are accurate. But isn't that beside the point? We know from multiple credible accounts that there is a serious risk of famine in the Gaza Strip — that the people there are in desperate shape. And according to Fine, they should all starve because Hamas is still keeping hostages? It should go without saying, but that is an appalling moral outlook. If you are willing to starve thousands and thousands of innocent people in order to punish terrorists hiding among them, where does your penchant for collective punishment and retaliatory violence end? We obviously would not apply so logic to ourselves: Evil actions on the part of our government would not justify the deliberate starvation of thousands of American people. And as Dr. Paul points out in his video, it's not as if anyone is asking the American taxpayers to forcibly contribute to the aid of Gazans: What we are saying is that aid organizations should be allowed to operate in the Gaza Strip. Israel has bombed and bombed and bombed Gaza, crippled its infrastructure, and killed thousands of people. At this point, the government of Israel does bear some moral responsibility for the suffering of the people there. The U.S. government cannot take the position that Israel is free to blockade the strip and prevent willing aid organizations from distributing food to the people there. It's unconscionable. I share the goal of destroying Hamas. But the destruction of Hamas cannot come at any cost. This cost is too high — especially when the U.S. government will be treated as morally complicit, given our ironclad support of Israel. Ron Paul is not the only Republican who thinks Randy Fine's stance on starvation in Gaza is evil. So too does a man named Aaron Baker. Baker writes on X: 'I do NOT support starving children. I do NOT support punishing citizens for having the worst government in existence.' Baker is a pro-Trump, pro-Second Amendment, pro-free-speech, pro-border, pro-capitalism, America First Republican, and he is running in the Republican primary against Randy Fine in 2026. Floridians should pay attention to him.

Zohran Mamdani Scores 17-Point Lead with Jewish Voters in NYC Mayoral Race
Zohran Mamdani Scores 17-Point Lead with Jewish Voters in NYC Mayoral Race

Newsweek

time12 minutes ago

  • Newsweek

Zohran Mamdani Scores 17-Point Lead with Jewish Voters in NYC Mayoral Race

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani commands a 17-point lead among Jewish voters in the upcoming New York City mayoral race, according to newly released polling. The survey from Zenith Research and Public Progress Solutions found that Mamdani's support among Jewish voters surpassed all other candidates, reflecting a complex realignment in the wake of his decisive victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Newsweek reached out to Mamdani's campaign team via email for comment. New York Democratic mayoral nominee, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander speak with members of the press as they greet voters on Broadway on June 24, 2025 in New York City. New York Democratic mayoral nominee, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander speak with members of the press as they greet voters on Broadway on June 24, 2025 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Why It Matters New York City hosts the largest Jewish population outside Israel and political analysts have long viewed this demographic as critical in mayoral contests. Mamdani's support among Jewish voters comes despite repeated accusations from opponents and some community leaders that his criticism of Israel represents antisemitism. His performance suggests growing acceptance among parts of the Jewish electorate—particularly younger and less religious voters—of candidates who hold critical views of Israeli policy, potentially signaling a shift in the priorities of one of the city's most influential voting blocs. What To Know The Zenith Research and Public Progress Solutions poll surveyed 1,453 New York City residents between July 16 and July 24. Among Jewish respondents likely to vote in the November mayoral election, 43 percent said they supported Mamdani, compared to 26 percent for Cuomo, his closest competitor who is now running as an independent following his Democratic primary defeat. Despite his outspoken criticism of Israel and refusal to disavow phrases associated with Palestinian activism, Mamdani outperformed more moderate candidates, including Mayor Eric Adams—who opted to run for re-election as an independent before the Democratic primary—and Republican Curtis Sliwa, among both Jewish and non-Jewish voters. The poll's findings are especially notable against the backdrop of heightened tensions in New York's Jewish community, which has faced increased anti-Jewish hate crimes and debates over safety, city policy, and Israel. Despite such concerns, voters indicated that issues such as housing affordability, public safety, and government integrity were more influential in their vote choice than foreign policy or religious identity. Mamdani has consistently denied allegations of antisemitism, stating his criticism is directed solely at Israeli government actions, not Jewish people. He has also pledged to increase city funding for anti-hate crime programming and to foster dialogue within religious communities. The poll also suggests Mamdani has built a broad progressive coalition, with strong support from the young, LGBTQ+, and college-educated voters across racial and ethnic groups. The poll's methodology noted a margin of error of 2.9 percent for registered voters, with slightly higher error rates among likely Jewish voters due to sample size. The results reflect a possible generational and ideological realignment, as younger and more progressive Jewish voters appear less likely to equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Mamdani's strong showing follows his Democratic primary win, where he captured 56 percent of the overall citywide vote, with Cuomo trailing at 44 percent. What People Are Saying Rabbi Shimon Hecht, of Congregation B'nai Jacob in Brooklyn, said last month following the Democratic primary: "I think like every upsetting election, it's a wake-up call for people … I strongly believe that [Mamdani] will not be elected as our next mayor, but it's going to take a lot of uniting among the Jewish people and others who are concerned about these issues. We have to unify." Aiyana Leong Knauer, a 35-year-old Brooklyn bartender who is Jewish and backed Mamdani, said: "[The primary is] New Yorkers, many of them Jewish, saying we care more about having an affordable city than sowing division … Many of us take really deep offense to our history being weaponized against us … Jewish people all over the world have well-founded fears for their safety, but Jews in New York are safe overall." Zohran Mamdani said in a statement following his primary win: "I am humbled by the support of more than 545,000 New Yorkers in last week's primary. This is just the beginning of our expanding coalition to make New York City affordable. And we will do it together." What Happens Next The New York City mayoral general election is scheduled for November 4, 2025. Both Cuomo and Adams could impact the final outcome if they remain in the race, while Sliwa is hoping for a long-shot upset in a fractured field. This article contains reporting by The Associated Press

U.N. investigator says U.S. sanctions over her criticism of Israel will seriously impact her life
U.N. investigator says U.S. sanctions over her criticism of Israel will seriously impact her life

Los Angeles Times

time41 minutes ago

  • Los Angeles Times

U.N. investigator says U.S. sanctions over her criticism of Israel will seriously impact her life

ROME — An independent U.N. investigator and outspoken critic of Israel's policies in Gaza says that the sanctions recently imposed on her by the Trump administration will have serious impacts on her life and work. Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for the West Bank and Gaza, is a member of a group of experts chosen by the 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. She is tasked with probing human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories and has been vocal about what she has described as the 'genocide' by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza. Both Israel and the United States, which provides military support to its close ally, have strongly denied that accusation. Washington has decried what it called a 'campaign of political and economic warfare' against the U.S. and Israel, and earlier this month imposed sanctions on Albanese, following an unsuccessful U.S. pressure campaign to force the international body to remove her from her post. 'It's very serious to be on the list of the people sanctioned by the U.S.,' Albanese told The Associated Press in Rome on Tuesday, adding that individuals sanctioned by the U.S. cannot have financial interactions or credit cards with any American bank. When used in 'a political way,' she said the sanctions 'are harmful, dangerous.' 'My daughter is American. I've been living in the U.S. and I have some assets there. So of course, it's going to harm me,' Albanese said. 'What can I do? I did everything I did in good faith, and knowing that, my commitment to justice is more important than personal interests.' The sanctions have not dissuaded Albanese from her work — or her viewpoints — and in July, she published a new report, focused on what she defines as 'Israel's genocidal economy' in Palestinian territories. 'There's an entire ecosystem that has allowed Israel's occupation to thrive. And then it has also morphed into an economy of genocide,' she said. In the conclusion of the report, Albanese calls for sanctions against Israel and prosecution of 'architects, executors and profiteers of this genocide.' Albanese noted a recent shift in perceptions in Europe and around the world following an outcry over images of emaciated children in Gaza and reports of dozens of hunger-related deaths after nearly 22 months of war. 'It's shocking,' she said. 'I don't think that there are words left to describe what's happening to the Palestinian people.' The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel and killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 people captive. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians but says more than half the dead are women and children. Nearly 21 months into the conflict that displaced the vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million people, the United Nations says hunger is rampant after a lengthy Israeli blockade on food entering the territory and medical care is extremely limited. Zampano writes for the Associated Press.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store