LAWRENCE — The leaders of a Jewish center at the University of Kansas joined a chorus of sorrow and outrage over the killing of alumna Sarah Milgrim and her partner Wednesday night in the DC Jewish Museum shooting.
Milgrim, 26, was shot and killed alongside Yaron Lischinsky, 30, at an American Jewish Committee event for young diplomats. A suspect who was taken into custody shortly after the shooting shouted “free, free Palestine.” Officials said the attack appeared to be targeted.
Milgrim, a Kansas native and KU graduate, and Lischinsky had planned to leave Sunday to visit his family in Jerusalem, where he planned to give her an engagement ring.
Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Tiechtel, directors of Chabad Center for Jewish Life at KU, mourned their deaths. In a statement, they said Milgrim was “a proud Jewhawk” and “an active, deeply loved member of our KU Jewish community.”
“She joined us often for Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, and countless Jewish programs, always bringing her warm smile, gentle spirit, and deep passion for her Jewish heritage,” the Tiechtels said. “She was not only a joy to be around but a true embodiment of grace, empathy, and purpose.”
They said Milgrim had recently joined the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., to continue her mission of “bringing light into a world that too often feels dark.”
“Her life was a beacon of hope and humanity,” they said. “Her loss is a devastating blow to all who knew her and to the values she stood for.”
Milgrim’s father, in an interview Thursday with KCUR, said she graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School and then from KU with a degree in environmental science. She earned master’s degrees in international studies from American University in Washington, D.C., and international sustainable colonial development from the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica. She had worked for an organization that connected young Israelis and Palestinians before joining the embassy.
The couple planned to leave Sunday for their trip to Israel. Her parents learned after her death that Lischinsky had purchased a wedding ring to give to her during the trip.
“There just needs to be something done to make people realize that we’re many different people living in the U.S., but there’s no reason to hate one another,” Robert Milgrim said in the radio interview. “This hate cannot divide us. We need to overcome it.”
KU chancellor Doug Girod said he had the honor of learning about Milgrim from members of the university community who knew her at KU and were aware of the meaningful life she had been living. He said their heartfelt remembrances offered a “picture of a beautiful soul who, in true Jayhawk spirit, was inspired to improve the world around her.”
Rabbi Stephanie Kramer of the Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, in Overland Park, said Milgrim was a member of the congregation whose personal commitment was rooted in her unshakable identity.
Kramer urged the congregation to respond with unity instead of fear, and with resolve instead of silence.
“Sarah grew up in our community. She celebrated with us, learned with us and inspired us with her integrity and purpose,” Kramer said in a statement. “She stood for something larger than herself and she paid the ultimate price for it.”
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly in a statement Thursday called for “those responsible for this vicious crime” to be brought to justice. Antisemitic violence is not theoretical, she said.
“In my role as governor, I will continue to call out antisemitism and be active in pushing back against it,” Kelly said. “As Kansans, we value peace over violence, dialogue over destruction, and dignity for all people, regardless of faith or background.”
Authorities identified the suspect as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago. Deputy FBI director Dan Bongino said on social media that the “act of terror has the full attention of your FBI.”
American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch said the couple were killed as they left an AJC event at the Capital Jewish Museum. He condemned the “shocking act of violence”
“While we wait for the conclusion of the police investigation — and urge all our friends and allies to do the same — it strongly appears that this was an attack motivated by hate against the Jewish people and the Jewish state. This senseless hate and violence must stop.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his “heart grieves for the families of the young beloveds, whose lives were cut short in a moment by an abhorrent antisemitic murderer.”
Kansas House Republicans in a statement said “the evil rot of antisemitism has been allowed to fester far too long.”
“The poison of extremist ideologies that lead to this type of violence and are peddled by radicals has no place here,” their statement said. “And while it is most certainly not enough, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families, friends, and the entire Jewish community and stand with you through the heartbreak of this horrific tragedy.”
Kansas Senate Republicans condemned “the heinous attack on two Israeli diplomats.”
“Let’s be clear — this is antisemitic and anti-American terrorism that cannot be tolerated,” their statement said. “This vile act underscores why we must continue to be vigilant in our fight against antisemitism at every turn and why this past session, we passed legislation to define antisemitism and declare any form of it will not be tolerated in Kansas.”
The new law, which was inspired by pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, codifies an International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism that considers criticism of Israel to be antisemitic. The one-page bill declares antisemitism to be against public policy but contains no enforcement mechanism.
“This act of terrorism underscores our need to continue to do more to ensure antisemitism has no place in our state,” the Senate Republican leaders said. “We stand with Israel, the Jewish community, and all who are impacted by this unfathomable atrocity.”
