Capital Jewish Museum reopens after deadly shooting

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- Just over a week after a deadly shooting outside its entrance, the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., reopened its doors Thursday in a somber ceremony honoring the two lives lost.

The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, both young Israeli embassy staffers, were fatally shot by a gunman near the museum’s entrance last week. The attack sent shockwaves through the local community and reignited concerns about rising antisemitism across the country.

A reflective crowd gathered for the museum’s reopening, where mourners joined in song and shared memories of the fallen diplomats.

“We gather today under the shadow of immense grief,” said Chris Wolf of the museum’s board of directors. “Two individuals dedicated to the ideals this museum stands for.”

Community members, city leaders, and diplomats paid tribute while grappling with the gravity of the violence.

“That an attack could happen like this in our nation’s capital... it's truly a wake-up call,” said Sus Stoloff, a longtime Washington resident. “We’ve been shouting it out for a while.”

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized the need for unity and vigilance.

“Keep showing up for the Jewish community and to keep showing up for the Capital Jewish Museum,” she said.

The newly appointed Interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, Jeanine Pirro, pledged swift justice in the case.

“This will not go without just accounting. No more tolerance of hatred. No more mercy for criminals,” Pirro stated.

As the museum reopens, its leaders say they will honor Lischinsky and Milgrim through a dedicated memorial and continued education efforts aimed at combating hate.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing.