Our Hearts Are Heavy

May 22, 2025
24 Iyyar 5785

Dear Congregational Family,

Our hearts are heavy as we take in the news of last night’s fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy Staff members in Washington, D.C. Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, a young couple soon to be engaged, were brutally murdered while leaving an AJC young professionals’ event celebrating Jewish Heritage Month. We are grateful to law enforcement for swiftly apprehending the shooter.

We stand in horror at the blatant antisemitism which motivated this act of violence, another stark example of the baseless hatred Jews are experiencing around the world. In this moment, as always, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our sisters and brothers across the globe in expressing our devastation at this attack. We send our support and solidarity to Jewish communities everywhere — and on this difficult morning, especially to the staff of the Israeli Embassy and the Jewish community in Washington, D.C.

We continue to take every available step to ensure safety in our TBJ facility. Always.

Our hearts are with Sarah and Yaron’s families and circle of friends and we are praying that their lives, cut far too short, will continue to inspire all who knew them. May their memories only be for a blessing.

We will continue to raise our voices against hatred in all forms. And we are, and will always be, a resilient people in the face of hate.

With our deepest Prayers for Peace,

Rabbi Matthew D. Gewirtz
​​​​​​​Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein
Rabbi Karen Glazer Perolman
Rabbi Leah H. Sternberg
Cantor Howard M. Stahl
Rena Abrams, Executive Director
​​​​​​​Karen Feldman, President