Temple Sholom and Beth Adam are hosting an “Action for Ayman” event to support Ayman Soliman on Sept. 10, at Congregation Beth Adam.
On July 9, Soliman was detained by ICE during a meeting over his asylum status. The case of the now-former Cincinnati Children’s Hospital chaplain has drawn condemnation from interfaith groups in Cincinnati, including the Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis.
For the organizing rabbis, Rabbi Ari Jun and Rabbi Lauren Werber, supporting the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers in this moment is paramount.
“The Torah speaks on dozens of occasions about protecting the stranger in our midst, and I believe that that includes people of all backgrounds, not just people who are perfect matches for our Jewish community and all forms of ideology,” said Jun.
At the event, attendees will have the chance to write letters of support to Soliman, who has been imprisoned in a Butler County Jail since July, and to politicians like Gov. Mike DeWine.
“When I visited Imam Ayman, he told me how meaningful letters are to him, so at the very least, I hope every person who writes knows they’re bringing a little light to him,” said Werber.
Since his arrest, there have been protests across Cincinnati in support of Ayman, including a rally that led to a confrontation between protesters and Covington Police on the Roebling Bridge.
ICE arrested Soliman after his asylum was revoked the previous month. Federal officials had cited ties to an Egyptian charity, which relied on false information, and Homeland Security had to admit it falsely accused Soliman of murder.
The Trump administration has increased the amount and the publicity of deportations since January 2025. The push has included the violation of due process and deportations of U.S. Citizens, the stripping of asylum status, and the revocation of visas.
This has left many Americans and Jewish Americans not sure of what to do next. For Rabbi Werber, this is the time to stand up and fight for what she and Jun believe are not just American values but Jewish values.
“I hope people recognize that, even when the world appears dark and the tasks at hand seem overwhelming, we have choices and we can act,” said Werber. “We can’t do everything, but we can do something.”
“It can be easy to feel discouraged and powerless in this moment,” said Jun. “And I hope this event will remind members of our Jewish community that we do have tools at our disposal to fight for the good in our society.”
Many Jews have felt uncomfortable in progressive spaces over the past few years, and in some cases have even been pushed out of them. To Jun and Werber, that isn’t a reason not to step up and speak out, even if that means being uncomfortable.
“It’s hard, and sometimes it feels lousy, but if we truly hold our values, then we have to live them even when it’s hard,” said Werber. “The stakes are too high to retreat to our comfort zones or to only engage when we agree with 100% of the agenda. My choice is to attend rallies and protests for things I believe in, and to do so wearing a kippah and frequently holding a sign that points to my Jewish identity. We do not determine how other people act: We only control our actions. Nobody can take our identity or our pride away. We can own it and still work for justice, even when it’s hard. In fact, that’s when it matters the most.”
The action event for Ayman Soliman will be held at Beth Adam synagogue, from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10. Jun and Werber said that for those who can’t attend but still want to be involved, can write letters at home or donate to Ayman’s legal fund.
“I think we have an obligation to be showing up,” said Jun. “Otherwise, we will look at this moment some years from now and realize that this is when we ceded the Jewish moral and political voice to those who don’t have our best interests at heart.”
