Hebrew Union College claims Ohio’s charity law suit violates its First Amendment rights

The Reform movement's central rabbinical seminary, Hebrew Union College (HUC), has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the state of Ohio. HUC argues the suit violates "foundational Jewish religious doctrine" and the First Amendment by entangling government with religion.

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The suit violates the First Amendment by entangling government and religion.

The lawsuit, originally filed in April by then-Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, accuses HUC of violating nonprofit law. The state claims HUC misled donors by closing degree-granting programs at its historic Cincinnati campus, despite fundraising there, and by violating its charter to "permanently maintain" a residence in the city.

Ohio seeks to seize HUC's assets in the state and redirect them to a new nonprofit. HUC, however, calls the state's action an "unconstitutional and illegal governmental assault upon religion." The college asserts that the Attorney General has no authority to dictate the religious affairs of institutions like HUC.

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Such a move is an unconstitutional and illegal governmental assault upon religion.

HUC maintains that its decision to close the Cincinnati campus was lawful and that it will continue to maintain other campus assets, including its library, archives, and museum. The seminary cites a passage from the Torah, stating "God will come to his people wherever they welcome him," to argue that considering "Jewish demographic realities" is part of its religious mission.

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The Attorney General has no role in dictating the religious affairs of institutions like HUC. The Court should reject his overreach into religious matters and should dismiss the Complaint because it is unconstitutional and unlawful.

HUC President Andrew Rehfeld stated that the decisions were made thoughtfully to ensure the institution's long-term success and its ability to graduate strong Jewish leaders. He added that the lawsuit improperly interferes with the decisions of a religious organization and cannot go unchallenged. Yost recently resigned as AG to join Alliance Defending Freedom.

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These decisions were made thoughtfully and responsibly to ensure the long-term success of the institution and our ability to continue graduating strong Jewish leaders.