In one jail cell sat 11 women rabbis. In another cell, out of sight but within earshot, sat eight male rabbis. Together, the 19 rabbinic leaders filled one of New York’s crowded and unkempt prison wings with words from the Torah, the sound of Jewish music and even moments of laughter.

“All of the sudden we started singing songs for Tu B’Shevat and then the men joined in and it was sort of this moment of humour and levity in the midst of everything” said Rabbi Lauren Hermann, one of the rabbis arrested.

This picture of rabbis, in handcuffs, being marched down the street by police, is remarkable:https://t.co/eztQSQ2gLQ pic.twitter.com/SqFW1V0T4u

— Emma Green (@emmaogreen) February 7, 2017

Rabbi Hermann was detained along with the 18 other rabbis after protesting against the travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The protest began with around 200 people marching from the Upper West side of Manhattan down to Columbus Circle, which is directly opposite Trump International Hotel.

It featured singing and chanting in support of refugees and culminated when the group of rabbis sat in the middle of the road to block traffic, prompting their arrest.

“Every rabbi that got arrested knew beforehand that this was going to happen,” Rabbi Hermann told the Jewish Chronicle.

She added that Truah, the organisation that planned the protest, was in communication with the police throughout the situation.

“I have an unbelievable appreciation for how the police acted and how they understood the importance of non-violent protest in America,” said Rabbi Menachem Creditor, another one of the arrested protesters.

After refusing to move from the street, the rabbis were handcuffed one by one and placed on a police bus which took them to the 33rd precinct, located in the upper Manhattan neighbourhood of Washington Heights. In the 1930s, 20,000 Jewish immigrants settled in the Heights after fleeing Nazi Germany. Nearly a century later, 19 rabbis were put behind bars following an act in support of refugees fleeing religious persecution.

“Jews have a part to play in healing our democracy,” Rabbi Creditor, who flew in from California for this event, told the JC, “We were singing words of Torah in a time of fear even though we are not the ones being persecuted. Well, not yet.”

Upon their release early Tuesday morning, the rabbis remained undeterred, motivated and even joyful as they continued to sing and dance outside the precinct.

“As tired as I am on four hours of sleep, I feel as energised as ever,” Rabbi Hermann said.

“I feel very hopeful about the Jewish world,” Rabbi Creditor added. “The work is only just beginning.”