Jewish Community Relations Council of NY Condemns Heinous Antisemitic Murder of Israeli Embassy Staff Members

NEW YORK, NY (05/22/2025) (readMedia)-- Statement from JCRC-NY CEO Mark Treyger:

We are devastated by the murder of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, staff members of the Israeli Embassy, in Washington last night. Our hearts break for their families and loved ones as we mourn the loss of these two young people whose lives were cut short by antisemitic hatred.

This heinous act of terror is utterly unacceptable. The painful irony is that Yaron and Sarah were dedicated to building bridges and finding solutions for peace. They were attending the American Jewish Committee's "Turning Pain Into Purpose" event focused on bringing together people of different backgrounds to address humanitarian needs and promote understanding-the very values that their killer sought to destroy through violence.

We are dedicated to combating antisemitism in all its forms and will not be silenced by terror. We mourn deeply with the victims' families and urge all people of conscience to condemn the widespread culture of antisemitism that enabled this violence.

We are in close contact with CSI and NYPD to ensure there is no current threat in New York and that our community remains secure.

Responsible leaders at all levels of government must step up at this moment to bring people together and take decisive action against the normalization of antisemitism. We truly hope those who have promoted theories of "anti-normalization", which seek to separate Israel and her people from other nations and subject them to different standards, will reflect on how their actions contribute to the systematic othering of Israel as a Jewish state. Violence and antisemitism are the predictable results of this dangerous rhetoric.

We will not let hatred win. We will continue to stand up for our values, protect our community, and honor the memory of Yaron and Sarah by carrying forward their commitment to peace and understanding. Their legacy demands nothing less than our unwavering dedication to building the bridges they believed in.

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JCRC-NY, a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York, serves as the primary community relations agency for the Jewish community in the metropolitan New York area. As an active force in New York civic and communal life, JCRC-NY operates as a central coordinating and resource body with a mission to build relationships to advance the values, interests, and security of the Jewish community and to create a more interconnected New York for all.