Grieving father of murdered Israeli embassy worker fights tears as he gives first interview since slaying
The family of Sarah Milgrim, one of the Israeli embassy staffers shot to death outside the Capital Jewish Museum, held back tears as they described how strong she was.
Sarah's parents, Robert and Nancy, and her older brother, Jacob, granted CBS News their first interview since last month's gruesome terrorist attack in Washington, D.C., which also took the life of Sarah's boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky.
'Usually, a parent tries to mold their child. Sarah molded us,' Robert Milgrim said. 'She was a stronger person than I ever was.'
'I told Nancy after this happened that I'm a different person now than before this happened, from learning so much about what Sarah did and her courage and her striving for peace,' he said.
Sarah, 26, and Lischinsky, 30, were shot and killed while leaving a diplomatic event focused on how to get more aid into Gaza, the Palestinian region Israel invaded after Hamas killed nearly 1,200 Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023.
'She wasn't against the Palestinians. She wasn't against the people in Gaza. She was in all her heart working towards finding a way for everyone to live together peacefully,' her mother, Nancy Milgrim, revealed to CBS News.
The suspected shooter, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, allegedly fired 21 shots at the couple, who was due to be engaged the following week.
During his arrest, Rodriguez was hauled away while shouting: 'Free, free Palestine,' as he squirmed against the officers' grip.
President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the shooting, which was described by law enforcement as 'targeted.'
Rodriguez, who has been shown to have negative feelings toward Israel in leaked texts, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
The Milgrim family sat down with CBS two weeks after the May 21 attack to tell the world her story.
Robert Milgrim described Sarah as the 'perfect child,' adding that they never argued about anything.
'She loved the environment, loved mother earth. She loved people. She loved family. She loved her community,' Robert said.
Sarah made several trips to Israel in her life. The first was for her bat mitzvah in Jerusalem, and she would return again while she was in college.
She went back a third time after she joined Tech2Peace, a work-study program for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Sarah began working for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. in November 2023 after she graduated with a master's degree in International Affairs from nearby American University.
She met Lischinsky while studying at the private university, known for its focus on politically-focused degrees.
'We saw their love blossom for each other. And we knew how strong it was,' Sarah's father said.
The Milgrims weren't aware Lischinsky was set to propose to Sarah until after they heard so from the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter.
'The young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing next week in Jerusalem,' Leiter said shortly after the shooting.
Sarah's mother also later learned from a friend that her daughter had gone ring shopping to give Lischinsky tips on what she wanted.
The Milgrim family also commented on the rising tide of antisemitism in the US following the October 7 attacks.
On Sunday, a man threw Molotov cocktails at peaceful pro-Israel protestors who were marching at the outdoor Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado, to honor the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas.
Twelve people were injured in the attack allegedly perpetrated by Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, who was arrested and charged with a federal hate crime.
Milgrim's older brother, Jacob, called this type of violence senseless.
'There is nothing more important in Judaism than life and the sanctity of life — and to what end is this fighting and sacrifice...what does it accomplish?' he said in the interview.
'Taking my sister ... it's not going to accomplish anything.'
The Milgrims are now left grieving and unsure how to cope with Sarah's death.
'Right now, I'm hurt. I'm too hurt to say it's anger or frustration. I don't know what I'm going to feel later on, to be honest with you,' her father said.
The Milgrim family plans to visit Israel in the fall to meet with Lischinsky's family and visit his grave.
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