An ambulance was dedicated to the American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA) in honor of the late Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky at a service at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, on July 17.
The ambulance was donated by the Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation, a Los Angeles-based foundation which supports Jewish advocacy, education, cancer research and more. Magen David Adom, the recipient of the ambulance, is Israel’s national emergency medical service, and AFMDA is its American support organization.
Sarah Milgrim, age 26, and her partner, Yaron Lischinsky, were murdered last year in Washington, D.C., while attending an American Jewish Committee event. Milgrim is originally from Prairie Village, Kansas, and graduated from the University of Kansas.
Speakers at the event included Milgrim and Lischinsky’s fathers, community member Robert Milgrim and Daniel Lischinsky; a representative of AFMDA, Debbie Dolgin; and president of the Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation, Elizabeth Goldhirsh. B’nai Jehudah Rabbi Stephanie Kramer opened the ceremony with a prayer.
“Sarah and Yaron dedicated their lives to make the world a better place,” Robert Milgrim said at the event. “...There is no more appropriate gift than this ambulance, which will carry on the giving spirit of Sarah and Yaron and which will save lives.”
The ambulance, an upfitted Chevrolet van, is similar to many of Magen David Adom’s existing vehicles and will be shipped to Israel in the next few weeks. Decals on the ambulance door include sunflowers — Sarah Milgrim’s favorite flower — and the text, “Presented to the People of Israel,” followed by Milgrim and Lischinsky’s names and hometowns.