On the Detention of Imam Ayman Soliman

July 11, 2025 — Tamuz 15, 5785

We, the undersigned members of the Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis, are alarmed by the unjust detention of Imam Ayman Soliman.

Many of us personally know and have worked with Imam Soliman. For years, he has been a model member of and leader in Cincinnati’s faith community. Recognizing the complexity of immigration cases, we affirm that Imam Soliman represents precisely the type of person we want to remain in Cincinnati: Compassionate, intelligent, and collegial.

Imam Soliman came to the United States as a refugee, fleeing violence in Egypt. The Jewish tradition reminds us that we too were once strangers, and that consequently, it is our duty to take care of the foreigner in our midst. Sadly, we are living through a moment of great intolerance toward immigrants. Our religious convictions require that we speak up for these individuals. They deserve respect, dignity, and–of course–due process.

In our tradition, we also regularly pray for the freeing of captives.  We demand that Imam Soliman be freed and restored to our community.

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Rabbi Bruce Adler

Rabbi Donna Adler

Rabbi George (Gershom) Barnard

Rabbi Robert B Barr

Rabbi Laura Baum

Rabbi Erin Binder | Associate Rabbi & Educator, Rockdale Temple

Rabbi Noah Ferro | Spiritual Leader, Northern Hills Synagogue

Rabbi Zachary Goodman | Associate Rabbi, Isaac M. Wise Temple

Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch

Rabbi Neil Hirsch | Senior Rabbi, Wise Temple

Rabbi Shena Potter Jaffee

Rabbi Ari Jun | Senior Rabbi, Temple Sholom

Rabbi Meredith Kahan | Senior Rabbi, Rockdale Temple

Rabbi Lewis Kamrass | Rabbi Emeritus, Isaac M. Wise Temple

Rabbi Sandford Kopnick

Rabbi Matthew Kraus

Rabbi Shirah Kraus

Rabbi Jennifer J. G. Lewis

Rabbi Margaret J Meyer

Rabbi Jonathan Perlman

Rabbi Samantha Schapera | Associate Rabbi, Northern Hills Synagogue

Rabbi Julie Schwartz

Rabbi Scott Shafrin | Senior Rabbi, Adath Israel Congregation

Rabbi Elena Stein

Rabbi Simon Stratford

Rabbi Miriam Terlinchamp | Executive Director, Judaism Unbound

Rabbi Gerry Walter | Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Sholom

Rabbi Lauren Werber | Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beth Adam

Rabbi Edie Yakutis | Temple Beth El, Muncie, Indiana

Rabbi Dr. Gary P. Zola | Executive Director Emeritus, The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish & Professor Emeritus at Hebrew Union College

Rabbi Austin Zoot | Rabbi Educator, The Valley Temple