Shockingly, in Washington, D.C., an enraged gunman murdered an American Jew and an Israeli Christian on the street in front of the Capital Jewish Museum, just a little more than a mile from the White House. In a carefully planned act of domestic terror, gunshots and screams shattered a peaceful interfaith gathering on May 21. This intentional assault on the Jewish community, fueled by dangerous rhetoric-building over the years, highlights how violence becomes inevitable when hate is normalized. The incident forces Jewish organizations to further confront an escalating threat that demands heightened and costly security measures.
Chicago-born gunman Elias Rodriguez, 31, fatally shot Sarah Milgrim, a 26-year-old Jewish research professional from Kansas and killed her boyfriend, 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky. While Milgrim tried to crawl away, the terrorist pursued her, shooting again. While she was still alive, he reloaded his handgun and kept shooting to ensure that she was dead. He said his actions were “for Gaza” and to “free Palestine.” Luschinsky had planned a marriage proposal in Jerusalem a week later.
The shooter attacked a multifaith and humanitarian-aid event hosted by the American Jewish Committee. In a tragic twist of irony, the victims were Jewish and Christian staffers from the Israeli embassy, both devoted peace advocates. Driven by blind hatred, the shooter sought to kill American Jews—murdering those who championed the very principles of peace and coexistence he claimed to fight against. Speaking at Milgrim’s funeral, Rabbi Doug Alpert said: “If you really wanted to know how to give Palestinians a better life, a life of humanity and dignity, to get needed aid into Gaza, you could have asked Sarah.”
Event organizer JoJo Drake Kalin added that “the event theme was our collective humanity, humanitarian aid and bridge-building. It’s so deeply ironic that we were all there in a nonpolitical way—Jews and non-Jews alike, representatives of 30 embassies—with the intention of turning pain into purpose.”
The victims in their own words:
- Yaron Lischinsky: “I’m an ardent believer in the Abraham Accords and believe in expanding the circle of peace with our Arab neighbors. To this end, I advocate for interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding.”
- Sarah Milgrim: “While working with Tech2Peace in Tel Aviv, I conducted research on peacebuilding, emphasizing grassroots initiatives in the Israeli-Palestinian region. I am committed to fostering understanding between different peoples. I am eager to contribute to organizations dedicated to bridging divides and promoting religious harmony.” She had a degree from UPEACE.
Critical need for security: ‘Attack was just a matter of time’
The D.C. shooting exposed the lack of adequate security despite repeated warnings from multiple law-enforcement agencies and Jewish American groups amid historic violence against Jews nationwide. This tragedy highlighted the urgent and ongoing need for enhanced security measures in Jewish communities. Terrorists in America have targeted Jews at synagogues, community centers, businesses, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and now, the Capital Jewish Museum. The perpetrators killed Jews and non-Jews, and came from various ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Jewish communities across the country shoulder a significant financial burden for security; costs for synagogues sometimes reach one-third of their budgets. In response to the recent shooting, 42 Jewish groups called for $1 billion in federal funding to secure Jewish communities. By comparison, European governments often bear a greater share of security expenses.
“The murders were the direct consequence of rising antisemitic incitement in places such as college campuses, city council meetings and social media that has normalized hate and emboldened those who wish to do harm,” the 42 groups stated. “All Americans have the right to feel safe and secure. This is a problem not just for the Jewish community, but for every American community.” U.S. Jewish security leaders urged vigilance amid a threat of copycat attacks.
Immediately after the shooting, local resident Jim Rose visited the scene and expressed his thoughts, which are shared by many American Jews. “There was a shock, but there was no surprise. It was just a matter of time before something like this happened in our community,” he said. “I’m just frustrated that more wasn’t done to prevent this. You could just see it building, just with the rhetoric and what is allowed in protests.”
From words to action: ‘Globalize the intifada’
Days before the attack, a senior Hamas leader said: “The time has come for everyone to take action. Everyone who can bear arms anywhere in the world must act. Spare no IED, bullet, knife or stone.” Progressive American influencer Hasan Piker hosted a 20,000-person live stream with an Australian guest who constantly urged Americans to randomly kill Israelis, saying “weapons in America can be used very effectively.”
The shooter is linked to several Marxist groups that promote anti-American rhetoric and receive support from China and Iran. They have been involved in organizing anti-American and anti-Israel protests for years, including on university campuses. He was a member of the American Party for Socialism and Liberation. The day after the savage Hamas attack on Oct. 7, the party posted a video: “The U.S. is a terrorist. We have the historic responsibility of defeating Israeli colonialism and U.S. imperialism. Palestine will be free.” Its leaders routinely praise the Oct. 7 attacks and call for “Death to America! Death to Israel!” The Qatari media and Iranian TV celebrated the murderer.
The radical American Unity of Fields organization is leading a “Free Elias” campaign. It stated that the attack was “legitimate, it was justice, where legal and moral duties meet. GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA!” The group also supports a Palestinian terror group’s message that “targeting the enemy should not be restricted by geography.” Unity of Fields is funded by a Cox Media heir and was involved in protest planning at Columbia University that targeted Jewish students and their allies.
This latest attack is the most virulent manifestation of the chant “Globalize the Intifada,” but many other incidents in the days before and after the shooting around the world are a warning sign:
- An American citizen was arrested for attempting to firebomb a U.S. embassy office in Tel Aviv.
- New York man charged with federal hate crimes after repeatedly assaulting Jewish victims, including students, home found with weapons and $750,000 in cash.
- Anti-Israel activists disrupted an event at a Polish synagogue.
- Activists attempted to reach a Swiss synagogue, triggering a warning from the U.S. embassy.
- The defacing of a historic Athens church with anti-Jewish and anti-Israel graffiti.
Points to consider:
- The attack was not random, and the murderer should not be celebrated.
The D.C. shooting was a calculated act of terror, specifically targeting a Jewish event. The assailant staked out a Jewish building and his actions demonstrated clear, deliberate intent, including pursuing a wounded victim to ensure her death. This was premeditated murder driven by a hate-filled ideology that targets Jews and their supporters. The attack was un-American; no loss of innocent life should be tolerated. The explicit celebration of violence stands in direct opposition to the foundations of a moral society and threatens all communities. The crime was all the more shocking that it happened in the nation’s capital.
- Words fuel violence: ‘Globalize the intifada.’
The terror attack in America’s capital was a direct assault on American Jews and their supporters attending an event at a Jewish building organized by a Jewish organization. This violent incident reveals how unchecked anti-Israel rhetoric quickly mutates into lethal attacks against Jews. Warnings about this outcome were sounded for years, especially after Oct. 7, and were feared by American students on campus and at graduation. Ted Deutch, CEO of AJC, said: “For those who claim that ‘Globalize the intifada’ is peaceful, the horrifying shooting is proof that you are wrong. Words matter. Just because one person pulls the trigger doesn’t mean they acted alone.” This violence was an anticipated next step for Hamas sympathizers.
- The dehumanization of Jews leads to deadly attacks.
The terrorist attack was a direct consequence of the normalization of hate and the dehumanization of Jews. When anti-Israelism spills over into antisemitism, a pathological hatred of Jews emerges. This dehumanization paints Jews as a monolithic evil, justifying violence against them. Media commentator and writer Bari Weiss highlighted the danger: “How can anyone not draw a connection between a culture that says Zionists are anti-humans and the terrorists now attacking Jews across the globe? It is how the permission structure for violence against innocent Jewish people and their supporters in America has been erected over the past year and a half.” Yaron and Sarah deserved a future together. Instead, they became victims of the oldest hatred. We can all honor their memory by fostering a society where attending a Jewish event does not make you a target.
- Terrorists target all Jews and Israelis, including peace activists.
The D.C. shooter targeted Jewish peace advocates indiscriminately, mirroring the brutality seen when Hamas terrorists intentionally killed Israeli peace activists on Oct. 7. They did not differentiate between their victims, seeing all Israelis and Jews as evil. There were Israelis who drove sick Palestinian children from Gaza to Israeli hospitals and communities that employed Gazans. The young couple killed in our nation’s capital was committed to advancing peace between Jews and Muslims, Israelis and Arabs. Their murderer did not care—demonstrating the tragic irony of attacking a peace event.
- Security funding is a shared responsibility.
Protecting Jewish communities from terror attacks or other extremist violence is a shared national imperative whether perpetrated by the far left or the far right. It is not solely a Jewish burden. The high security costs for synagogues and Jewish organizations divert crucial resources from community and educational programs. This burden is much less common among other religious minorities. Federal and state governments must provide substantial funding, mirroring the commitment of European nations to protect their religious and cultural communities. This is about defending fundamental American freedoms and ensuring all communities can worship and gather safely.