“06880” intern Katherine Phelps reports:
Jesup Green — for decades, a gathering place in times of both crisis and celebration — was the site last night of an interfaith vigil.
Over 200 people honored Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. The young peace advocates were killed last week, while attending a Jewish American Heritage Month event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington.
The vigil was personal and communal. It was a time for mourning, reflection, and expressions of commitment to justice and solidarity.
The vigil begins.
The vigil drew clergy of various faiths, elected officials, and neighbors of all backgrounds.
Among the speakers was Rabbi Jeremy Wiederhorn of The Community Synagogue. He also chairs the Westport/Weston Interfaith Clergy Association.
“Tonight’s gathering was powerful because it brought together clergy, elected officials, and the broader community to stand together against antisemitism,” he said. “As a rabbi serving a congregation during this difficult time, this show of unity and support brought me strength and pride to live in a town like Westport.”
Clergy from across Fairfield County called for unity and resistance to hate. Reverend Carl McCluster of the Baptist Church in Bridgeport noted, “An attack against anyone is an attack against everyone. I am a neighbor who will not be silenced.”
Rabbi Michael Friedman of Temple Israel.
Congressman Jim Himes — who knew Sarah Milgrim, and called her a “shining light” — offered a reminder of the work ahead, and how change can always be made.
“Your faith is shaken by the unknowable question of how someone can be taken just like that,” he said.
“We will teach our children to never take the lives of others, especially based on religion. It is our schools and our religious institutions that must propagate against violence.”
The event also included remarks by Rabbis Michael Friedman and Yehuda Kantor of Westport; Rev. Heather Sinclair of the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston, and Rev. Carl McCluster from Bridgeport, who was recently in Israel.
Rev. Heather Sinclair of the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston.
Senator Richard Blumenthal spoke, as did 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker. She assured the Jewish community that Westport is a safe place for all.
Senator Richard Blumenthal. In the front row behind him are (from left): Rev. Carl McCluster of Bridgeport’s Baptist Church, Congressman Jim Himes, Rev. Heather Sinclair and 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker.
Marking the 600th day that hostages have remained in captivity following the October 7 Hamas attack, the gathering resonated with grief, but also resilience.
Joe Weisz, a senior official with the US Department of Homeland Security overseeing community engagement in Fairfield County, emphasized the urgency of “denouncing hatred toward Jews” and “advocating for internal dialogue and understanding.” He reminded the gathering that Sarah had dedicated her life to “peace-building and religious understanding.”
Rabbi Jason Greenberg of Norwalk’s Temple Shalom in Norwalk led the gathering in singing “We Will Rise.” Rabbi Evan Schultz of Congregation B’nai Israel in Bridgeport, shared the commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Erika Brunwasser, a longtime Westport resident, and the founder of the online community Jewish Westport, called the event “deeply important to me. I was horrified when I heard about the murder of these two beautiful souls — peacemakers and activists — who were shot and killed simply for attending a Jewish Heritage Month event.”
The gathering on Jesup Green. (All photos/Dan Woog)
She emphasized the importance of public response and community strength.
“It is crucial to stand together in solidarity against terrorism, to gather with friends and neighbors in the Westport Jewish community and with those incredible allies who support us.
“I will always do all that I can to raise awareness — not only to honor my grandfather, who survived the Holocaust, but also the memory of my other family members who weren’t lucky enough to survive.”
Another Jewish resident said, “It was important for me to attend the vigil to honor the lives lost and be a strong part of a community that speaks out against hatred, violence, and antisemitism.
“Despite gathering on behalf of a deeply painful and troubling event, the collective experience was heartwarming. The songs sung and the prayers said were deeply touching and provided an opportunity for healing.”
The assembly was an excellent and impactful educational experience for the entire school. I want to underscore that the students themselves envisioned, created, shaped and ran the assembly from start to finish. And I credit the school administration for trusting and supporting them, and for giving them the opportunity to stand up and lead.
This comes at a time when there is a frightening rise in antisemitic incidents in our country. I know this, and am deeply saddened that our Jewish community is understandably feeling so vulnerable.
As one important step, I am looking forward to joining them in a community conversation next month. I also look forward to continuing these conversations with other members of our community.
As Rabbi Wiederhorn pointed out to me, Israel is at war with the terror group Hamas. Collectively our local rabbis want, and pray for, peace with all neighbors, here, and internationally.
Our job as public educators is to support the growth and development of our students.
We need less than $145,000 more to reach our goal of $250,000. That will provide 150 homes ruined during the Russian occupation with new roofs, windows and more — plus a generator for every one. And a water filtration system for the entire devastated town.
