A Bullet through the heart of American Jewry

Wednesday night’s point-blank shooting outside Washington DC’s Capitol Jewish Museum claimed the lives of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim OBM , two young, promising, committed, and proud ambassadors of Israel.

My colleague, Rabbi Zalman Teichtel of the University of Kansas Chabad, knew Sarah from the Shabbat dinners she attended there. He described her as “a shining light—kind, graceful, and deeply committed to peace and the well-being of others.” Many tributes describe Yaron as a passionate bridge builder and diplomat.

About those who are killed for having a Jewish soul, Maimonides writes:

“There is no higher level than theirs. About them it is stated,
‘For Your sake, we have been slain all day; we are viewed as sheep for the slaughter’, and ‘Gather unto Me, My pious ones, those who have made a covenant with Me through sacrifice’.”

This attack also sent a bullet through the heart of American Jewry.

Just walking distance from the U.S. Capitol, in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial, Jews were gunned down for being Jews. Washington, DC now joins Pittsburgh, Colleyville, and Poway—cities where Jewish institutions and people were targeted simply for being Jewish.

Ad Mosai? Until When?

What more can we do—what must we do—as we watch a world going mad, drunk on lies?
How do we correct a world in which a diplomat is framed as a threat while terrorists are called freedom fighters?

In 1984, the Rebbe told Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Benjamin Netanyahu:

“You are going to the UN, which is a house of darkness and lies.
Even in the darkest of places, the light of a candle shines far and wide. Your job is to be that candle of truth.”

We need to light a candle of truth— a Jewish candle.

A candle that shines our light—the light that reminds the world it is created by the Maker of all things, and that every person is formed in the Divine image.

The light that inspires faith, courage, and hope. The light of the Jewish people.

The World Needs Moral Clarity
Condemnations on X are great. They haven’t solved a problem yet. Truth spreading on Instagram may be necessary, but it remains to be seen if it has ever truly changed someone’s mind.

The candle of hope and courage is the candle of faith— The light which tells the world that it was created on purpose, with the promise of good, abundance, and dignity for all.

The light of the Jew is when the Jew behaves Jewishly.

“For the mitzvah is a candle and Torah is light.” (Proverbs 6:23)

The world needs the light that inspires faith, courage, and hope. The light of the Jewish people.

Here are two ways you can shine it:

Shabbat Candle Lighting
Jewish women, please light the candle of Shabbat this week—the candle of peace, faith, and harmony.

Mezuzah

Hang a Mezuzah on your door. Let the world know you are proud of your Judaism and that the inhabitants of your home achnowledge the Divine presence.

May Hashem comfort the mourners, heal the brokenhearted, and bring the era of peace and blessing we have been working toward for two millennia.