Letters to the Editor - May 29, 2025

Remembering Sarah and Yaron

Last Wednesday night Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were murdered by a Pro-Palestinian fanatic while leaving an event at the DC Jewish Museum that was focused on humanitarian diplomacy and improving the delivery of aid to Gaza.They were murdered because the shooter believed that they were Jews.It didn’t matter that Sarah Milgrim had worked for Tech2Peace in Tel Aviv conducting research on peace-building initiatives between Israelis and Palestinians.And it didn’t matter that Yaron was a devout Christian.The shooter did not know the couple, but he reportedly travelled from Chicago to Washington, with a weapon, on a mission to kill Jews.As he proudly announced, “I did it for Gaza” and “Free, Free Palestine”.

The shooter was likely influenced by inciteful rhetoric that is now prevalent on our college campuses and in some media.Students and their organizers loudly chant “Globalize the Intifada”, “From the River to the Sea”, “Free Palestine”, “F**K the Jews” and other catchy slogans.Perhaps these students don’t know that the Intifada was organized Palestinian terrorism against Jews in Israel which featured: bombings of buses, cafes, markets and nightclubs, random shootings, and rocket attacks against farming communities.Perhaps they don’t know that the Hamas charter calls for the elimination of all Jews from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea – which includes all of Israel.Perhaps they don’t know that the horrific October 7 massacre was a deliberate attempt to kill as many Jews as possible and to avoid a Saudi-Israeli collaboration to bring peace to the region.Perhaps they just want to protest because it is the fashionable thing to do.

Or perhaps they really mean what they say.Clearly the shooter from Chicago believed it, internalized it, acted on it and now likely thinks of himself as a hero to the cause.The Iranian regime is reportedly praising the shooter, as are some in social media, even calling for his release.

It is clear that our society has tolerated speech calling for violence, and speech that vilifies or dehumanizes those with whom we have political or cultural differences.It is also clear that such speech leads to violence, such as the assassination attempts on President Trump, CEO Brian Thompson, Rep. Steve Scalise, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Salman Rushdie – and now Yaron and Sarah.It is past time to curtail this type of speech from the campus rioters, which requires our institutions and elected officials – state and federal - to act decisively.

But we also need to examine the speech within our own communities.It doesn’t matter which group we identify with, if we are afraid to confront this problem and act, we will be complicit in the next murder.Silence is acceptance.

Let us remember Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim and do our best to ensure that we do not have to mourn any others killed by violence-inducing rhetoric. May their memories be for a blessing.

Alan Friedman

Salisbury

Thanking Region 1’s registrars

The students and Social Studies Department of Housatonic Valley Regional High School wish to express our thanks to Region One’s Registrars of Voters, especially Therese Duncan of Kent and Sally Kelsey of Falls Village, for their work at Dee Bushnell Memorial Voter Registration Day. On Tuesday, May 13, more than 25 high school students registered to vote! We are grateful to the Registrars for their hard work and for providing hands-on instruction in civics to our students.

Peter Vermilyea

HVRHS Social Studies Department

Kudos for honor roll

Congratulations to students who made the honor roll.As a retired teacher, I want to also recognize those pupils who faithfully attend school even when things do not come easily. If these unsung youth are good citizens in spite of not being particularly good scholars, I salute them and their teachers. They persevere. They, too, can take a bow.

Jon C. Lafleur

Kent