May 31, 2026
American Jewish Committee (AJC), the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, today posthumously honored Sarah Milgrim (z”l) and Yaron Lischinsky (z”l) with the Ofir Libshtein Bridge Builder Award.
Sarah and Yaron, who were murdered outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., following an AJC ACCESS D.C. Young Diplomats reception on May 21, 2025, were dedicated staffers at the Israeli Embassy and passionate about building a better, more connected, and more peaceful future. They both brought deep sincerity to this difficult work, which enabled them to build the genuine, meaningful relationships necessary to foster honest dialogue and make real progress in a region at war.
In accepting the award on behalf of their daughter, Bob and Nancy Milgrim said, “I see Sarah’s legacy as inspiring other people to continue her work. It is one thing just to remember what she did, but it is a whole different thing to start doing something — to continue the work, to continue the dialogue, to bring people together. If you are inspired, you should act. Sarah’s legacy will imbue our work with meaning. We should not honor her by retreating from coexistence. We will honor her by doubling down on full unapologetic bridge building.”
Yaron’s parents, Daniel and Ruth Lischinsky, said, “We would have liked to see them getting married, we would have liked to play with their children. What was their crime? Being Jewish and being Israeli. Trying to find a better way to introduce humanitarian help to Gaza – that was the subject of that AJC meeting at the Capital Jewish Museum here in Washington, D.C. They were really bridge builders, peacemakers like Ofir Libshtein, and AJC.”
The horrific attack that took Sarah and Yaron’s lives was meant to spread fear throughout the Jewish community across the world. It was a direct assault on the values we cherish as Americans and as Jews. The AJC ACCESS Young Diplomats reception focused on humanitarian diplomacy, bringing Israelis and Palestinians together, and working to build a more interconnected Middle East. Though our hearts are broken, AJC continues to honor Sarah and Yaron by pressing forward in pursuit of this mission.
“Like Ofir’s, Sarah and Yaron’s legacy is far greater than the hatred that stole them from us. It is defined by what they devoted their lives to: bringing people together across differences, borders, and identities and building a Middle East rooted in coexistence and understanding,” said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. “Sarah and Yaron’s work at the Israeli Embassy reflected this commitment every day by choosing engagement over withdrawal and hope for a better future over fear – even in the most difficult and tumultuous times. In Jewish tradition, memory carries responsibility. To remember is not only to speak their names, but to honor their lives through action. AJC is committed to carrying on this legacy.”
Created in 2024, the award is a testament to Libshtein’s commitment to promoting peace and a reflection of his unwavering belief in bridging divides and fostering cooperation. Libshtein, the head of the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council, and his son Nitzan were murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. He was dedicated to building bridges across communities, for the Jewish people and Israel. He was a staunch believer in people-to-people ties, and an optimist who often said “light and goodness will ultimately triumph.”
To watch more videos from AJC Global Forum 2026, go to AJC.org/GlobalForumNews2026.
American Jewish Committee (AJC) is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people, creating trusted partnerships with leaders around the world to ensure Jews and Israel are safe and thriving. Through 40 offices and dozens of partnerships with Jewish communities worldwide, AJC engages leaders in more than 110 countries, empowering those in government, education, partner communities, and the private sector to counter antisemitism and act as allies. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
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