Front Light

• Ep 8 - “None are free until all are free": the intersection of Palestinian and queer justice, with Annabeth Roeschley of BMC.

  “None are free until all are free” is a quote attributed to luminaries working for justice throughout history: Emma Lazarus, Fannie Lou Hammer, Martin Luther King Jr., and Maya Angelou. In this episode, we interview Annabeth Roeschley (they/she), the Director of the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests. They are a long-time activist and advisor for queer intersectional justice within and beyond Mennonite Church USA. Annabeth embodies this role as a queer abolitionist theologian, spiritual care curator, and politicized chaplain who dwells at the intersections of individual and collective healing. A graduate of Bluffton University, Annabeth holds a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary with a concentration in LGBTQ+ Religious Studies. After a decade in Washington, DC and now in Chicago, Annabeth and their partner are active with the local Hyde Park Jewish community and with a queer house church. Annabeth draws deeply from rural Illinois roots (Potawatomi, Peoria and Myaamia land) and loves watching the moon rise over the edge of Lake Michigan.Resources:5 Patterns of Legal Escalation by Maki Ashe Van Steenwyk: https://makiashe.substack.com/cp/161466693  On denationalization by M Gessen, drawing on Hannah Arendt: https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2025/03/23/opinion-trump-isnt-just-attacking/ Unmasking Christian Zionism for Queer, Palestinian, & Jewish Liberation: https://www.bmclgbt.org/palestinian-jewish-liberation-resources  Creating Cultures of Care: Blessing LGBTQIA+ Kin Across MC USA: https://www.bmclgbt.org/creating-cultures-of-care-blessing-lgbtqia-kin-across-mc-usaEveryone is invited to BMC's 50th anniversary celebration! www.bmclgbt.org/50th “The Memory Librarian” by Janelle Monae, noted as Joanna’s front light this month:https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/the-memory-librarianHuge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing. 

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• Ep 7 - Learning through discomfort with Noura Erakat

  “They’re trying to equate anti-racism with comfort: ‘everybody should get along.’ But nobody is entitled to comfort. We are entitled to respect.”In this episode, we interview Palestinian-American scholar and attorney, Noura Erakat. She is a Professor of Africana Studies and Criminal Justice at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, author of Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine (Stanford University Press, 2019) and an Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Palestine Studies. Also in this show, Joanna shares about the anniversary of the Nakba, and Jonny about his favorite new band.Noura’s instagram reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJUSwcxN_6R/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Ahmed the Little Farmer: https://www.instagram.com/tasnemaaed?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==“Fabulously Melancholy” by Plastic Hacks: https://plastichacks.bandcamp.com/If your congregation or ministry observes ICE or CBP activity in or around your place of worship, please contact Iris de León-Hartshorn ([email protected]) immediately and copy your Conference Minister so that we can document any encroachment into sacred spaces with the court.Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, Holly Harris, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing.

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• Ep 6 - Palestinian, Mennonite and American - a conversation about identity, faith, and solidarity with Michael George

  In this episode, we speak with Michael George who serves on the steering committees of Mennonite Action and the Mennonite Palestine Israel Network (MennoPIN). He shares his family's history in Palestine, their migration journey, and the cultural identity shaped by his Palestinian and Mennonite heritage. He discusses the complexities of navigating biculturalism, the impact of faith on activism, and the importance of speaking out for justice. During the past five years, Michael has helped to facilitate MennoPIN’s “Twinning with Gaza” Initiative in which Mennonite congregations in the United States have built relationships with Palestinian-led non-profit organizations in Gaza.Re: Mennonite Church USA et al vs Department of Homeland Security:If your congregation or ministry observes ICE or CBP activity in or around your place of worship, please contact Iris de León-Hartshorn ([email protected]) immediately and copy your Conference Minister so that we can document any encroachment into sacred spaces with the court.Slideshow from Michael George featuring his family history and travels to Palestine.You can learn more about MennoPIN here: https://mennopin.org/The Encampments documentary: https://www.watermelonpictures.com/films/the-encampmentsEmail us at [email protected] to give us your feedback and we’ll feature you.Huge thank you to the incredible Jewish recording artist, Batya Levine for the use of their song “We Rise” as our theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tkmkwufRVw). The beautiful logo is by Jesse Bergen. Front Light is edited by Ken Ogasawara and produced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk, and Nick Martin. Thank you all for listening and sharing.

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• Ep 5 - Lessons from Jewish Anti-Zionist Organizing: A Conversation with Rabbi Alissa Wise

  Joanna and Jonny interview ​​Rabbi Alissa Wise about anti-Zionism, organizational building, Jewish Voice for Peace, and a book she co-wrote on lessons in anti-Zionist organizing.Rabbi Alissa Wise is a community organizer, educator, organizational consultant, and ritual leader with over two decades of movement-building experience. She is the Lead Organizer of Rabbis for Ceasefire which she founded in October 2023. She is co-author of Solidarity is the Political Version of Love: Lessons from Jewish Anti-Zionist Organizing (Haymarket, 2024).Also, on our episode, we share feedback from listeners. Email us at [email protected] to give us your feedback and we’ll feature you. Joanna shares about her community came together after a tragic loss they suffered; and Jonny waxes on the beauty and hope of the game of baseball. To sign Mennonite Action’s pledge, donate, or sign up for our Email list visit www.mennoniteaction.org.Buy Alissa’s book here: https://www.solidaritylovebook.org/Jonny’s ode to baseball: https://jonnyrashid.substack.com/p/an-ode-to-baseballEdited by Ken Ogasawara and Christen KongArtwork by Jesse BergenProduced by Jonny Rashid, Joanna Lawrence Shenk and Nick Martin

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• Ep 4 - From "quiet in the land" to suing the US government, reflections on Mennonite advocacy with Iris de León-Hartshorn

  In Episode 4 Joanna and Jonny interview ​​Iris de León-Hartshorn about her life, enduring commitment to justice, and the lawsuit for which she is the spokesperson: Mennonite Church USA vs. the United States Department of Homeland Security. She shares the challenges she faced as a young Latina girl growing up in a white supremacist reality and the really interesting, winding path she took to find her place amongst Mennonites and as a Latina Mennonite leader.Iris serves as associate executive director of Operations and director of Human Resources for Mennonite Church USA (MC USA). During her career, de León-Hartshorn also served as director of intercultural ministries for MC USA, conference minister for MC USA’s Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference, director of Peace and Justice Ministries for Mennonite Central Committee where she supervised several programs including Damascus Road. She served on the executive committee of Mennonite World Conference. de León-Hartshorn was a panelist in the World Council of Churches in Durbin, South Africa, for the UN World Conference Against Racism 2001. In 2001 she co-authored a book with Regina Shands Stoltzfus and Tobin Miller Shearer entitled, Set Free – A journey toward Solidarity Against Racism. de León-Hartshorn is a member of Portland Mennonite Church, Portland, Oregon, She is married to Leo Hartshorn for 51 years and they have three grown children and two grandsons.Also, on our episode, we share a poem from a listener and reflect on how feelings of despair can paralyze us from action. Joanna’s front light is on Academy Award-winning documentary “No Other Land,” and Jonny’s is on the hilarious Netflix comedy, “Mo.” Two pieces of Palestinian-made media.To sign Mennonite Action’s pledge, donate, or sign up for our Email list visit www.mennoniteaction.org.To learn more about MC USA’s lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security: https://www.mennoniteusa.org/news/mc-usa-joins-more-than-two-dozen-christian-and-jewish-denominations-and-associations-sue-to-protect-religious-freedoms/“No Other Land” documentary: https://releasing.dogwoof.com/no-other-land“Mo,” the Netflix series: https://www.netflix.com/title/81134264

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