On May 21, 2025, during Wellbeing Wednesday, students watched a powerful video as part of a message from B-CC’s No Place For Hate initiative, exploring what it means to be Jewish. The video was followed by guided discussion questions to help students reflect on a recent rise on antisemetic incidents. This presentation was organized in recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month.
The video was created by sophomore Issac Biel who shared his motivation behind the project: “My goal was to spread awareness in the B-CC community about the impact of recent antisemitism on the Jewish community. I feel like the message is really important because of how strong our Jewish population is at B-CC.”
Tragically, later that same day, a horrifying act of violence underscored the importance of this conversation. Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, staff at the Israeli embassy, were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., after attending a Jewish heritage event. The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, 31, from Chicago, allegedly shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack and was detained inside the museum before causing further harm.
Milgrim and Lischinsky, who were in a relationship and planning to become engaged, were known for their commitment to public diplomacy and various human rights efforts including that evening’s event, focused on humanitarian aid to Gaza. Their deaths have sparked national conversations about the alarming rise in antisemitism and the need for greater awareness, education, and solidarity.
