Blog

This week we grieve the loss of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were murdered in cold blood Wednesday night in Washington DC. This young couple, who were to become engaged next week in Jerusalem, sought to work for a peaceful coexistence of Arabs and Israelis. Together, they were targeted by someone who wished to further "globalize the intifada." It was not a protest. It was an act of hate.

We may not have known Yaron and Sarah. But we know they could have been us. We know that when Israel is demonized, when activism turns to hatred and ignorance, it fuels antisemitism. It means that Jews are in harm's way simply because we are Jews.

As we go into Shabbat, our prayer is that we do not feel afraid, but further emboldened to live our lives proudly out loud as Jews. May the Holy One bring their families comfort, and may their memories be for a blessing.

Tonight, we invite you to come together as a community at Shabbat services to mourn and pray with us as we share reflections on this tragedy. And if you're struggling to find the words to have conversations around antisemitism and Israel, please consider attending an interactive training at TI on June 1 led by Project Shema where you'll learn simple strategies to share the lived experiences of the Jewish people.