DAVIS, CA — The tragic shooting of two young Israeli diplomats in Washington, D.C., has reverberated across the country, including in Davis, where Rabbi Jeremy Simons of Congregation Bet Haverim has called the act “shocking and unconscionable.”
Rabbi Simons, who will host a community vigil this evening at 6:00 p.m., described the attack as an act of political terror. “Sarah and Yaron, whose families were preparing to celebrate their engagement in Jerusalem next week, are now arranging their funerals,” he said, invoking the traditional Jewish wedding blessing: “Soon, God, may the sounds of happiness and joy and the voices of the groom and bride be heard in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem.”
The two victims, Sarah Milgrim, an American Jew, and Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli Christian, were both employed by the Israeli Embassy and were attending a diplomatic event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the Capital Jewish Museum. According to federal authorities, the shooter, Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, opened fire on the pair as they exited the event.
Rodriguez allegedly chanted “Free, free Palestine” before firing multiple rounds at close range, even as one of the victims attempted to crawl away. Surveillance footage and eyewitness testimony led to his arrest. Rodriguez reportedly brought the firearm used in the attack with him from Chicago, declaring it in his checked luggage.
Federal prosecutors have charged Rodriguez with murder of foreign officials, firearm-related homicide, and first-degree murder under D.C. law.
“This brutal, anti-Semitic violence has no place in our country or anywhere in civilization,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will follow the facts and secure the most severe possible punishment for the perpetrator of this heinous crime.”
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro noted the broader implications of the crime. “Because of one person’s actions, two families are left to grieve for dreams that will never be realized. Senseless acts that take innocent lives are intolerable.”
The attack has been labeled targeted and antisemitic by the FBI and the Department of Justice. FBI Assistant Director Steven Jensen stated, “Make no mistake: This attack was targeted, antisemitic violence.”
The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington also issued a statement through its CEO Ron Halber, calling the murders “unbearable” and highlighting the couple’s work toward peace. “Sarah and Yaron were young and vibrant adults… They also demonstrated wisdom and compassion well beyond their years, working to foster respect and understanding between Israelis and Palestinians.”
California State Senator Scott Wiener, Co-Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, issued a strong statement in response. “For millennia, Jews have been targeted with violence. Violence against Jews has escalated in recent years… This violence has a root cause: antisemitism,” he said.
Senator Wiener also noted that Jews comprise 2% of the U.S. population but are the targets of 15% of all hate crimes and 68% of all religion-based hate crimes. “More and more Jewish institutions, including synagogues, have been forced to take security measures, even including metal detectors, in response to this violence,” he added.
Security concerns are now front and center. In Washington, D.C., police increased their presence at religious institutions. In a press briefing, Police Chief Pamela A. Smith stated, “We continue to work closely with our federal partners and want to assure our community that the safety of all residents and visitors remains our top priority.”
In Davis, Rabbi Simons echoed that concern and extended a call for solidarity. “Our Jewish community seeks and needs allies to stand in solidarity with us. I invite everyone to join us this evening at 6:00 p.m. for a vigil memorializing Sarah and Yaron,” he said.
The crime comes amid a backdrop of national scrutiny surrounding the rise of antisemitism. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents reached historic highs in 2024, with over 4,000 reported cases of harassment, vandalism, and assault.
As federal authorities continue their investigation, the Jewish community, both in Davis and nationwide, mourns a devastating loss. “Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky have been taken from us,” said Ron Halber, “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.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing and urged the public to remain vigilant. Rodriguez is currently in federal custody awaiting trial. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment or the death penalty.
As the sun sets in Davis, Rabbi Simons and his congregation prepare to mourn—not just for Sarah and Yaron, but for a moment of peace that never came, and for a future stolen by hate.
“The tragic shooting of two young Israeli diplomats in Washington, D.C., has reverberated across the country, including in Davis, where Rabbi Jeremy Simons of Congregation Bet Haverim has called the act “shocking and unconscionable.””
Well since this tragedy appears to have deeply affected Davis citizens maybe the MAPA Report should be rejected by the city council. Why take a chance on igniting further hostility at this time?
DG, you mention twice the time of the vigil, not the location of the vigil. If this is for security reasons, that’s fine — but then again we can’t attend if we don’t know where it is.
I believe it’s at the Synagogue, but have not been told that directly
I confirmed it is at the Jewish Congregation Bet Haverim at 6:00pm.
Chris Cuomo (partial excerpts, yesterday): “”Democrats, my brothers and sisters, I understand why you’re worried about Trump. I understand why you call him an ultimate evil, but I don’t agree. And if you want the ultimate evil, look at the Islamists, … . . . We know the shooter is a far-left extremist caught on camera shouting ‘Free Palestine’ and saying he did it for Gaza. So why the F are all these people still ignoring the threat? . . . There are so many like him here, radicalized and ready to act. . . . It’s the same thing I’ve heard in every community, every campus, every protest. . . . This is not a one-off. This is part of a growing, ignored trend. . . . I’m not demonizing an entire faith. . . . I am not trying to erase or in any way mitigate the massive death toll of civilians in Gaza or diminish the obvious need for the violence to stop. If anything, after seeing the video, there is an increased urgency to avoid what could still come because this could get much worse. . . . When people have been given reason to believe it is you or them, they are capable of anything. . . . This is not tit-for-tat. They are fueled by the deepest fears of genocide because those fears are real. . . . I realized something that I had missed before. This was absolute genocide. . . . They wanted the Jews to know that they want them to burn again.”
[This is a clearer version. I got more info and filled in the missing thoughts in brackets to make it clearer. Please remove the above and replace with this]
Chris Cuomo (partial excerpts, yesterday) on News Nation: “Democrats, my brothers and sisters, I understand why you’re worried about Trump. I understand why you call him an ultimate evil, but I don’t agree. And if you want the ultimate evil, look at the Islamists, … . . . We know the shooter is a far-left extremist caught on camera shouting ‘Free Palestine’ and saying he did it for Gaza. So why the F are all these people still ignoring the threat? . . . There are so many like him here, radicalized and ready to act. . . . It’s the same thing I’ve heard in every community, every campus, every protest. . . . This is not a one-off. This is part of a growing, ignored trend. . . . I’m not demonizing an entire faith. . . . I am not trying to erase or in any way mitigate the massive death toll of civilians in Gaza or diminish the obvious need for the violence to stop. If anything, after seeing the video, there is an increased urgency to avoid what could still come because this could get much worse. . . . When people [like Hamas militants or radicalized extremists] have been given reason to believe it is you or them, they are capable of anything. . . . This [violence] is not tit-for-tat. They [Jewish people and Israelis] are fueled by the deepest fears of genocide because those fears are real. . . . I realized something that I had missed before. This [the October 7 attacks by Hamas] was absolute genocide. . . . They [Hamas] wanted the Jews to know that they want them to burn again.”
The plot thickens:
“Dad of suspected terrorist Elias Rodriguez was invited to Trump address by left-wing Democratic lawmaker”
https://nypost.com/2025/05/23/us-news/dc-jewish-shooting-suspect-elias-rodriguez-father-eric-rodriquez-invited-to-trump-address-by-far-left-lawmaker-chuy-rodriguez/
I’m not sure how that thickens the plot.
I was kind of being facetious with “the plot thickens”, but don’t you think it interesting that the killer’s father was the special guest of a far left democrat to attend a recent Trump national address to the country?
I do, and I think democrats would’ve been all over it if the killer’s father had been invited by a republican.
I went to the vigil. Was a beautiful tribute to the couple, with the politics more on how this is affecting Jews in this country and less on the international issues, which was appropriate. Focus was on the people and who they were, and on the future they will never have. Similar seemed to me on the way Jews everywhere hold the names and the faces of the hostages and do not and will not forget them. At the end the rabbi explained the tradition of the breaking of the glass, of the harshness of the sound and what that represents. He then crushed a bottle himself in their names, the harsh sound reverberating in the hearts of all present.
It will always be political (or viewed that way).
The reason being that the murder is viewed as an extension and/or result of the war/conflict (and U.S. support for Israel).
The only way to avoid it being viewed as political in nature is if all of humanity is mourned (e.g., including the thousands of “bystanders” in Gaza). Like the Pope does, I believe.
Or, if someone loses someone “personally” – in which case mourning a “particular” loss would not be viewed in a political manner – but as a “normal” (non-political) human response. Like those who lost someone on October 7th, or have a family member held hostage.
Or the families of all of those killed or injured in Gaza, since then.
So, by your logic, family is a valid group affiliation to mourn outside of one’s own personal death, but group affiliations of nationality or religion are not? Once you go beyond a few steps removed in family (how many steps?), you must mourn all losses of all humanity, or you are being “political”. Are you being purposefully obstinate in ignoring that human being affiliate in groups besides family?
You previously mentioned that you lost family member(s) on October 7th. And I subsequently realized that my earlier comment in response did not sufficiently acknowledge that (personal) loss, since I was more focused on a different point.
Regarding group affiliations, that was essentially my point. That is, why would anyone mourn one group more than another group (outside of individuals whom you have a personal connection with)? Or more to the point, isn’t that a lot of the problem in the first place – identifying so closely with a group – whether it’s a culture, country, skin color, religion, or some other group? (Didn’t John Lennon have a song which essentially spoke to this?)
I recently passed by a group on campus with lots of Palestinian flags and boxes in the same colors. I stopped to see what was going on. I thought it was a demonstration. Maybe it was, as everyone had their faces completely covered. But my conclusion was it was a grieving event, and the boxes may have represented coffins.
I understand why a people who have lost tens of thousands in a war could feel more deeply a connection to that loss, whether they lost family or not, than to, say, the loss of Jews in Israel on October 7th. That may be ‘the problem’, but you might as well say ‘human beings’ are the problem for all the good such a stance makes in solving anything. Understanding how other human beings may actually react and feel may lead to understanding and healing, eventually. Wanting the nature of human being to be different accomplishes nothing.
Why can you not see this, RO?
“Wanting the nature of human being to be different accomplishes nothing.”
I’m not sure that it’s deeply wired into humanity.
When I think of the victims of September 11th, I also think about all of the Iraqi citizens who were killed in its aftermath while looking for “weapons of mass destruction”. And all of the soldiers. And all of the people killed by Sadam Hussein, prior to that. (For that matter, I also found the video of Sadam Hussein being hanged several years ago, and was more-impressed by how he handled that than I was regarding the mob who hung him.)
I also think about all of the Germans, Japanese, and Italians killed in World War II. (And not just those killed in Hiroshima or Nagasaki.)
And I doubt that I’m alone regarding what I think about.
However, this isn’t a judgement regarding what’s “necessary” at any given time. For example, “something” had to be done about Gaza and Hamas.
What REALLY surprises me, however, is how some view the murder of the CEO of United Healthcare (also in a political manner – somewhat similar to the murder of this young couple in regard to seeing some type of “justification”).
Given the large response reported on social media, I’m probably encountering people who think that was justified – without even knowing what they think of that. Or maybe they don’t really think that way (I hope), and are just making trolling type of comments.
Or maybe they just think the murderer was “handsome” (something that never even crossed my mind, until it was pointed out on media).
Scott Peterson seems more handsome to me, but what do I know about that? (In any case, I suspect he STILL has some female, and possibly male “fans” as a result.)
I guess we’ll see how handsome the alleged murderer is in this case.
So what I learned from this is RO thinks Scott Peterson is more handsome that Luigi Mangioni, who is more handsome than Elias Rodriguez.
There are days I wish I hadn’t woke up :-|
I don’t (yet) have an opinion regarding Elias Rodriguez – will let you know when I do. (I didn’t even know or pay attention to his name until you mentioned him.) Or more to the point, will let you know after social media weighs in on it.
But seriously, Luigi apparently has a fan club in regard to that. (I believe the Boston Marathon bomber also had some fans.) Also, Ted Bundy.
:-)
For those of you who watching the TV series “You”, a dark comedy drama about a serial killer, the issue of the mental-illness of murderer fan clubs was brought up in the final series scene as the possible dramatic ‘point’ of the series.