By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

“Religious freedom is the right to hold, practice, and express religious beliefs without government interference or coercion, and is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which has two main clauses: the Establishment Clause (no government establishment of religion) and the Free Exercise Clause (no prohibition on the free exercise of religion).” – Google AI
During the recent discussion about the Antisemitism Awareness Act, concerns were raised by a group of practicing Christians: they were afraid that the act would make it illegal to say that Jews killed Jesus. Their concern was so great that the wording of the bill was changed. While anyone familiar with the history of that period knows that the Romans were the ones who crucified Jesus, these Christians have the legal right to believe that falsehood, just as I have the right not to accept their statement. I know people who say that anyone who has not accepted Jesus as their savior will burn forever in hellfire after they die. Our Constitution gives them the right to believe that. However, there are limits to religious freedom: while you can believe what you want, you aren’t allowed to say that those who disagree with you shouldn’t be allowed to vote, to live where they choose, to receive an education, to work in the job of their choice, receive healthcare or to marry the person they love.
For the last decade, religious conservatives have been saying our government has been restricting their religious rights. However, there are no laws that say a minister, imam or rabbi can be forced to marry someone if it goes against their religious beliefs. Clergy are allowed to preach against those they think are breaking religious law, including saying that God doesn’t approve of interracial or same-sex marriages. What they are not allowed to do is discriminate against others in business, school or governmental spheres. The same is true for those whose religious practices are more liberal or those who have no religion: they cannot discriminate against those whose beliefs they may find abhorrent. 
Unfortunately, potential changes to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program are seeking to limit our ability to exercise our religious freedom. All churches, mosques and synagogues should be able to access these funds, regardless of whether the current government agrees with their specific beliefs. Unfortunately, attacks against religious institutions are on the rise; no group is safe, as shown by the recent shooting at a Catholic school. Religious organizations should not have to change their moral beliefs to receive funds to protect those who use their services.
However, in order to receive funds, institutions may have to welcome ICE agents, when doing so goes against their religious and moral beliefs, noting that the Bible requires them to welcome the stranger. They may also have to stop supporting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, even if those efforts are a fundamental part of their religious identity. Those of us who see the full inclusion of the LGBTQ community as a religious obligation should not be penalized for those beliefs by being denied security funds freely given to those who oppose those ideals. I don’t argue that those who restrict women’s religious obligations or who oppose LGBTQ rights should not receive funds. They are absolutely allowed to practice those beliefs within their walls, but the same should apply to all groups.
If you believe in religious freedom, then you need to accept religious freedom for all, if only to protect yourself. After all, governments change and your religious practices could be targeted the next time by a different administration. The Jewish community should be all too aware of that possibility since that has happened to our community in almost every country in which we’ve lived. That is one of the beauties of the U.S.: religious freedom is supposed to be guaranteed for everyone.