Blab Politics
Hebrew Union College Seeks to Dismiss Ohio Attorney Generals Lawsuit Over Cincinnati Campus Closure
Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC‑JIR) filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on Friday, arguing that the state’s claims violate the First Amendment and religious freedom.
The lawsuit, filed in April by Yost, accuses HUC‑JIR of violating Ohio nonprofit law by shutting down degree‑granting programs on its historic Cincinnati campus. The state seeks to seize the college’s Ohio assets and redirect them to a new nonprofit that would continue a similar mission. The new nonprofit is an up‑start rabbinical school founded by HUC alumni.
HUC‑JIR says it closed the Cincinnati campus in compliance with its own governing documents and the law. The college maintains other campus assets, including the Klau Library, the American Jewish Archives and the Skirball Museum. In a statement accompanying the motion, HUC president Andrew Rehfeld said the decision was made “thoughtfully and responsibly to ensure the long‑term success of the institution.” He added that the lawsuit “improperly seeks to interfere in the decisions of a religious organization.”
The college’s motion argues that the Attorney General has no authority to dictate the religious affairs of a private institution. It claims the lawsuit is an unconstitutional and illegal assault on religion. HUC‑JIR also cites a Torah passage that it interprets as supporting its decision to consider “Jewish demographic realities” in its mission.
Yost’s lawsuit alleges that HUC‑JIR’s actions misled donors who were actively fundraising in Cincinnati and violated the college’s charter, which states that the school would “permanently maintain” a residence there. The state also claims the college violated Ohio charitable trust law.
The lawsuit is the second filed by Yost against HUC‑JIR in 2026. The first, filed in 2024, also focused on the college’s decision to wind down its Cincinnati operations in favor of its New York and Los Angeles campuses.
The College for Contemporary Judaism, a new rabbinical school that aims to become a home for liberal rabbinical students in the Midwest, joined the lawsuit on June 1. The school says it wants to acquire HUC‑JIR’s Cincinnati assets.
Yost resigned as Ohio Attorney General on May 7, effective June 7, to join Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal advocacy group. The lawsuit continues under the office of the interim Attorney General, Andy Wilson.
The case is pending in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. No ruling has yet been issued on the motion to dismiss. HUC‑JIR’s motion is scheduled for a hearing later this month.
The dispute highlights the tension between a state’s interest in overseeing nonprofit operations and a religious institution’s claim to free exercise of religion. It also underscores the growing number of religious schools seeking to relocate or restructure in response to financial pressures.
At present, the college remains open in its other campuses in New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem. The Cincinnati campus will close at the end of the 2025‑26 academic year. The state’s next steps will depend on the court’s decision on the dismissal motion.
The outcome of the case could set a precedent for how state attorneys general can intervene in the operations of religious nonprofits.
The lawsuit, filed in April by Yost, accuses HUC‑JIR of violating Ohio nonprofit law by shutting down degree‑granting programs on its historic Cincinnati campus. The state seeks to seize the college’s Ohio assets and redirect them to a new nonprofit that would continue a similar mission. The new nonprofit is an up‑start rabbinical school founded by HUC alumni.
HUC‑JIR says it closed the Cincinnati campus in compliance with its own governing documents and the law. The college maintains other campus assets, including the Klau Library, the American Jewish Archives and the Skirball Museum. In a statement accompanying the motion, HUC president Andrew Rehfeld said the decision was made “thoughtfully and responsibly to ensure the long‑term success of the institution.” He added that the lawsuit “improperly seeks to interfere in the decisions of a religious organization.”
The college’s motion argues that the Attorney General has no authority to dictate the religious affairs of a private institution. It claims the lawsuit is an unconstitutional and illegal assault on religion. HUC‑JIR also cites a Torah passage that it interprets as supporting its decision to consider “Jewish demographic realities” in its mission.
Yost’s lawsuit alleges that HUC‑JIR’s actions misled donors who were actively fundraising in Cincinnati and violated the college’s charter, which states that the school would “permanently maintain” a residence there. The state also claims the college violated Ohio charitable trust law.
The lawsuit is the second filed by Yost against HUC‑JIR in 2026. The first, filed in 2024, also focused on the college’s decision to wind down its Cincinnati operations in favor of its New York and Los Angeles campuses.
The College for Contemporary Judaism, a new rabbinical school that aims to become a home for liberal rabbinical students in the Midwest, joined the lawsuit on June 1. The school says it wants to acquire HUC‑JIR’s Cincinnati assets.
Yost resigned as Ohio Attorney General on May 7, effective June 7, to join Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal advocacy group. The lawsuit continues under the office of the interim Attorney General, Andy Wilson.
The case is pending in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. No ruling has yet been issued on the motion to dismiss. HUC‑JIR’s motion is scheduled for a hearing later this month.
The dispute highlights the tension between a state’s interest in overseeing nonprofit operations and a religious institution’s claim to free exercise of religion. It also underscores the growing number of religious schools seeking to relocate or restructure in response to financial pressures.
At present, the college remains open in its other campuses in New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem. The Cincinnati campus will close at the end of the 2025‑26 academic year. The state’s next steps will depend on the court’s decision on the dismissal motion.
The outcome of the case could set a precedent for how state attorneys general can intervene in the operations of religious nonprofits.
