05/23/2025
300 Rally at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Wake of Fatal DC Shootings
About 300 people gather following the fatal shooting of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, two Israeli Embassy staff members, at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Beachwood on May 23. Submitted photo
Article reprinted with permission from Cleveland Jewish News
by Lydia Kacala
About 300 people gathered at a community gathering, “Cleveland Stands Against Hate,” to mourn Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Milgrim, an American citizen, who were staff members of the Israeli Embassy who were fatally shot on May 21 outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland on May 23.
Erika Rudin-Luria, president of the Federation, told the Cleveland Jewish News the Federation began planning the event at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Building in Beachwood the morning after the attack to provide a show of support in the Jewish community.
A group of people hold signs reading “CLEVELAND IS STRONGER THAN HATE,” which were passed out by event workers. CJN photo / Lydia Kacala
“We had heard from many in the community that there was a need to come together, to stand together in grief and support,” Rudin-Luria said.
A suspect in the attack, Elias Rodriguez, 31, from Chicago, was taken into custody after the shooting and began chanting, “Free, free Palestine,” The Associated Press reported.
At the event, Lee C. Shapiro, regional director of the American Jewish Committee Cleveland, and Jeremy Sosin, a member of the board of directors at AJC Cleveland, lit two candles for Lischinsky and Milgrim.
Jeremy Sosin, a member of the Board of Directors at the American Jewish Committee Cleveland, and Lee C. Shapiro, regional director of AJC Cleveland, light two candles for Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, two Israeli Embassy staff members killed May 22. CJN Photo / Lydia Kacala
Reps. Max Miller, R-Rocky River, and Shontel Brown, D-Warrensville Heights, among others, shared their support for the Jewish community and encouraged an end to antisemitism and other forms of hate.
Other speakers were Daniel N. Zelman, Federation board chair, Jason Wuliger, Federation government relations committee chair, Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike, Cantor Kathryn Wolfe Sebo of Congregation Mishkan Or in Beachwood, Margaret Sanchez, CEO of Esperanza, Inc.leveland, Susan Borison, Federation community relations commitee chair, and Jeffrey J. Wild, Federation’s incoming board chair.
The event ended with the singing of “Hatikvah” by community schlichim.
View additional news coverage of the May 23 Community Gathering here:
