Messianic Jewish Diplomat Killed in DC Attack, Community Details Emerge

Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, Israeli diplomats killed in a May 2025 attack in Washington, DC, were members of Messianic Jewish communities. Lischinsky, who worked at the Israeli Embassy, was part of a Messianic congregation in Jerusalem, a faith that blends Jewish identity with belief in Jesus as the Messiah. Milgrim, from Kansas, was affiliated with a Reform synagogue, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.

Lischinsky was born in Israel but moved with his family to Germany as an infant. He returned to Israel at 16 and joined the Melech HaMlachim congregation near Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda market. The couple, who were reportedly planning to get engaged and travel to Israel, were deeply committed to each other and their faith.

Messianic Judaism is a distinct community in Israel, with approximately 30,000 adherents. These individuals maintain Jewish traditions while believing in Jesus as the Messiah. According to Michael Mistretta of the Fellowship of Israel-Related Ministries, there are around 300 Messianic congregations across Israel, from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.

Messianic Jews are integrated into Israeli society, with over 1,000 serving in the military. They hold positions in the air force, intelligence, and combat roles, with some in high-ranking positions. Mistretta noted that these communities are present in major cities and regions, including the moshav Yad Hashmona near Jerusalem, home to about 60 families.

The attack on Lischinsky and Milgrim, who were targeted for their Jewish identity and support for Israel, has sparked discussions about the role and perception of Messianic Jews in both Israeli and global Jewish communities. Their lives and deaths highlight the diversity within Jewish religious practices and the complex interplay between faith, identity, and national loyalty.

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