Tragic Incident in Washington
In a heartbreaking turn of events, Jaron Lisinski had intended to propose to Sarah Milgrim in Jerusalem next week, but both were tragically killed by gunmen outside the Washington Jewish Museum. Their deaths have brought increased attention to the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza, especially since the two were staff members at the Israeli embassy and were shot after attending a networking event for young professionals.
About Yaron Lisinski
30-year-old Yaron Lisinski had been serving as a researcher at the Israeli Embassy in Washington since 2022. Originally from Nuremberg, Germany, he moved to Israel at 16 and held dual citizenship. Lisinski pursued his studies at Reichmann University in Tel Aviv and Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Berlin’s Israeli ambassador, Ron Proter, described Yaron as an inquisitive and impressive student during his time at Reichmann. Nishim Otomazin, a professor at Hebrew University, noted Yaron’s aspiration to become a diplomat. Fluent in German, he was passionate about fostering relationships between Germany and Israel, as highlighted by Volker Beck, the president of the German and Israeli Friendship Association.
Yaron met Sarah Milgrim during her mission in Israel and, according to Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter, he had purchased an engagement ring. The couple had plans to see his family in Jerusalem this Sunday, with a proposal expected to follow soon after.
About Sarah Milgrim
Sarah Milgrim, 26, is depicted in a LinkedIn photo, smiling amidst the Israeli and U.S. flags. She joined the public diplomacy department of the embassy in Washington in 2023. A member of a prominent choir near Kansas City, she earned a degree in environmental sciences from the University of Kansas and also attended the American University in Washington, participating in the United Nations Peace Program. Her father mentioned that she held a master’s degree focused on international studies and sustainable world development.
The Milgrim family was unaware of any marriage proposal plans. According to her father, they learned about the tragic news from the Israeli ambassador, who reached out on Wednesday night. Nancy, Sarah’s mother, had intended to travel to Washington on Sunday to care for her daughter’s dog and, upon receiving news of the shooting, followed her daughter’s location to the Capital Jewish Museum before receiving the call.
“I already knew,” her father relayed. After spending a year in Israel, Milgrim had worked with the Tech2Peace group, bringing together young Israelis and Palestinians for discussions on peacebuilding and technology training. On LinkedIn, she had documented her research on the significance of friendships in peace processes between Israel and Palestine.
“She was doing what she loved; she was doing good,” her father expressed to the media.
