JCRC Statement
May 22, 2025
The following is a statement from Bob Budoff, President of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, and Ron Halber, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
“The DC Jewish community is reeling with grief and shock at the unbearable loss of Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. Sarah and Yaron were young and vibrant adults at the prime of their lives, planning a beautiful future together. They also demonstrated wisdom and compassion well beyond their years, working to foster respect and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians to help achieve an elusive peace.
Our deepest condolences go to Sarah’s and Yaron's loved ones, who are enduring the most unimaginable tragedy. Our thoughts are also with our many colleagues at the Embassy of Israel, where Sarah and Yaron were employed; the American Jewish Committee, whose event was targeted; and the Capital Jewish Museum, where this horrific tragedy unfolded. And we extend deep appreciation to our many interfaith partners for their words of condolence and kinship during this tremendously difficult time.
These heinous murders demonstrate a stark reality: to be a Jew in the United States of America in the year 2025 means living with a persistent sense of vulnerability and fear. This attack — seemingly perpetrated by a “lone wolf” terrorist — reminds us that all Jewish people and institutions are vulnerable; none of us is immune from the danger of radicalized antisemitism. It is also a tragic rebuke to those who deny the reality and extent of the antisemitism crisis in the US and refuse to acknowledge the inextricable connection of hatred of Israel to persecution of American Jews.
But we will never let violence or hatred prevent us from leading open and proud Jewish lives. Our schools, synagogues, community centers, and other institutions are central to our lives and identities. We must continue to participate fully and meaningfully while living our Jewish values — even and especially when our hearts are heavy.
Doing so safely demands a considerable increase in security funding at all levels of government, whose primary responsibility is protecting the lives, safety, and health of their residents. We are immensely grateful to federal, state, and local officials who in recent years have established new security grant programs for faith-based and community institutions — including the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) currently administered by FEMA, and a fund in DC launched just last year.
Yet simply maintaining existing programs at current funding levels is insufficient. Substantial infusions of new dollars are needed right now — not just for capital expenses, but also operating costs for synagogues and other sites to retain more security personnel. We urge Congress to respond quickly and affirmatively to the urgent request made today by the Jewish Federations of North America and other national agencies to increase NSGP funding to $1 billion. State and local legislators should make funding increases in their respective programs an immediate and top priority as well.
Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky have been taken from us, but their memory will live on forever — in the hearts of people who were fortunate to know and love them, and the millions more around the world who are now inspired by their example. Quite simply, they were the best of us.”