It’s not a zero-sum game. This week on The State of Belief, interfaith organizer Maggie Siddiqi makes clear that coming together to counter antisemitism and Islamophobia is an essential part of the effort to protect American democracy. And doing that requires countering the narrative that somehow supporting one of these communities is harming the other.

Maggie and host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush discuss some of the concrete ways these communities are, in fact, coming together, but also the very real risks that doing so brings, and the courage needed to persevere in the face of challenges that can include divisions and mistrust within diverse communities themselves.

The result can be profoundly inspiring: Paul and Maggie talk in-depth about a major Capitol Hill briefing last December convened by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), in partnership with Interfaith Alliance and Union Theological Seminary. In addition to MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati and JCPA CEO Amy Spitalnick, Congresswoman Lateefah Simon, a Muslim, and Congressman Jamie Raskin, who is Jewish, addressed the gathering, moderated by Union Seminary Senior Executive Vice President Rev. Fred Davie.

Paul and Maggie walk us through some of the highlights of the event, with excerpts from the various speakers and commentary on the significance of their words. For context, the briefing took place just days after the Hanukkah massacre of Jews in Sydney, Australia. But the focus on each other’s humanity, on the critical need for solidarity – especially during times of pain and fear – was unshakable. You can watch a recording of the entire briefing on the Interfaith Alliance YouTube page.

Paul also shares his first-person experiences on the front lines with faith leaders from all over the country who gathered last week in Minneapolis to take a moral stand against the authoritarian atrocities being perpetrated by ICE in that community.

More about Maggie Siddiqi:

Maggie Siddiqi is senior advisor at Interfaith Alliance. She is an expert in faith-based advocacy for social change, coalition-building across lines of difference, and public policy on religious freedom and standing up against hate. Maggie is also a non-resident fellow at MPAC. She has held important faith-focused positions at the office of the U.S. Secretary of Education and at the Center for American Progress. Maggie served as emcee for the briefing, in addition to playing a key role in organizing the event itself.