Kansas rabbis mourn death of KU grad and Israeli Embassy staff member

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Many people are mourning the death of Sarah Milgrim, a Kansan and Israeli Embassy staff member who was shot and killed alongside her boyfriend in Washington D.C on Wednesday.

Many people are feeling shock, grief, devastation and other emotions in the aftermath of the killings. It comes after Sarah Milgrim and her boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky were killed in a shooting outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. on May 21.

The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, has been charged with murder. Video from the incident shows Rodriguez yelling "Free, free Palestine" as he was taken into custody.

"They were willing to work in such a job that shouldn't have been dangerous," said Rabbi Samuel Stern of Topeka's Temple Beth Sholom. "They were willing to work in such a job, but they didn't do it to give their lives. They weren't supposed to give their lives for the American-Jewish community or the State of Israel."

Milgrim attended the University of Kansas and spent much of her time at the Chabad House before heading off to work for the Israeli Embassy in the nation's capital.

"She would come celebrate here behind me in the old space that we had," said Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel with Chabad at KU. "She would celebrate Shabbat dinners, holidays, just come together as a community. She had a special smile and a warmth. She brought people together. She dedicated her life to peace, love and bringing people together."

The Chabad center in Lawrence reopens in the fall of 2025, with Milgrim's memorial inside for people to pay respects and remember her. Members of the community in Kansas City also held a vigil for the couple Thursday evening.

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