BURSTOfficials leading the Jewish museum where two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot and killed called the killings a “devastating” attack on the community.
“We are heartbroken by the murders of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, and send our sincere condolences to their families and friends. May they, and all who grieve this devastating loss, be comforted by their communities,” said Beatrice Gurwitz, the executive director of the Capital Jewish Museum, and the museum’s board of directors in a statement.
“In an act of horrific antisemitic violence, a gunman attacked our beloved community. This tragedy is devastating,” they said. “Such acts of terror attempt to instill fear, silence voices, and erase history—but we refuse to let them succeed.”
Lischinsky and Milgrim were shot Wednesday evening outside the museum following an event inside. A 30-year-old male suspect from Chicago was detained after entering the museum.
The suspect yelled “Free, free Palestine” as he was taken into custody, police said. Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter told reporters Lischinsky and Milgrim were about to be engaged.
The statement from Gurwitz and the board states that they are working to reopen the museum in the coming days with all necessary security measures in place “so we can return to telling the story of Jewish Washington for thousands of visitors from around the world.”
“The Capital Jewish Museum was built to tell the centuries-old story of the greater Washington region’s vibrant Jewish community,” the statement reads. “We are proud to tell these stories of Jewish life. In our work, we share Jewish stories in the service of building bridges and opening dialogue in our beautiful city.”
The attack has received widespread condemnation from around the country, from both sides of the political aisle, and the world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who told him the United States would do what is necessary to ensure the perpetrator faces justice.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the shooting reflects an “alarming” rise in antisemitism seen since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which launched the current Israel-Hamas war. The Anti-Defamation League reported last month that antisemitic incidents reached a record high in 2024.