Murdered Israeli Embassy diplomat Sarah Milgrim remembered as a fiercely loyal friend, beautiful soul devoted to her faith

Friends and former classmates remembered slain Israeli Embassy staffer Sarah Milgrim as a “beautiful soul” and “peacemaker” who embraced her Jewish faith with pride just days after she was gunned down in an antisemitic terror attack in Washington, DC. The 26-year-old Kansas native, who was executed Wednesday night alongside her boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky, 28, outside the Capital Jewish Museum, was described as a devoted friend who used her voice to promote peace and advocate for unity in the Middle East. “She made me want to be more Jewish,” said Amanda Birger, a former University of Kansas classmate who met Milgrim at KU Hillel, a Jewish organization at the college, the Kansas City Star reported. “I came to Hillel looking for friends, but meeting Sarah showed me how someone my age, who was smart and funny and kind, could live a joyful Jewish life while also doing everything else she wanted.”Birger, who spoke to hundreds of mourners during a community vigil Thursday night, said her “fiercely loyal friend” was passionate about her religion, animals, the environment and her work at the embassy — a job Milgrim reportedly secured a month after the Oct.7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. “Even though she was faced with ignorant people and awful images and really difficult work, she stayed to help innocent people and to help our community,” Birger added. Suspected terrorist Elias Rodriguez, 31, was pacing outside the museum before he approached the soon-to-be engaged couple, who worked together, and fired off 21 shots from his handgun.The alleged assassin then pulled out a red keffiyeh and repeatedly yelled, “Free free Palestine” as he was arrested for the horrific double slaying.Rodriguez was charged with first-degree murder and other related counts for the hate-filled shooting.“She was good at everything she did,” high school friend Jacob Desett told KMBC 9 News, sharing their senior yearbook, which highlighted Milgrim’s...