LISTEN: Rabbi Jennie Rosenn Interviewed on State of Belief

HIAS Vice President for Community Engagement Rabbi Jennie Rosenn was interviewed on State of Belief radio with Rev. Welton Gaddy on Thursday, February 23. The conversation between the two faith leaders, which aired on Saturday, February 25, covered the Jewish and interfaith response to the Trump administration’s Muslim ban and the ongoing wave of anti-refugee rhetoric.

“I think President Trump was really not prepared for people to show up at airports and start having rallies across the country, and having religious leaders be arrested,” said Rosenn, when asked about groundswell of grassroots activism that popped up across the country following the signing of the executive order.

“I think there are real signs that it’s having an impact.”

“Jewish leaders are really saying, this is an issue that i care so deeply about, that I’m willing to put my body on the line for it,” Rosenn noted when Gaddy brought up the 19 T’ruah rabbis arrested on February 6 in act of civil disobedience outside Trump Hotel.

Rosenn also mentioned the nearly 2,000 rabbis who have called on the U.S. government to keep America’s doors open to refugees, as well as the more than 300 congregations that have joined the HIAS Welcome Campaign.

She added, “it could not be more important right now to really raise a moral and religious voice. And it’s also incredibly important to create welcoming communities. As you could imagine what it would be like to arrive in America at this particular moment of such heightened anti-refugee rhetoric.”

To listen to the full State of Belief interview, click here.

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