The lawsuit concerning the Hebrew Union centers on whether the college can legally close its historic rabbinical program after nearly 150 years in Cincinnati.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a lawsuit against Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in an effort to stop the closure of the school’s rabbinical program. He also seeks to preserve charitable assets tied to the Cincinnati campus.
The case has drawn national attention because the institution, founded in 1875, is considered the oldest Jewish seminary in the United States. According to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, the lawsuit argues the college violated a decades-old agreement. Specifically, the college was required to maintain a rabbinical school in Cincinnati permanently.
The dispute also raises broader questions about donor intent, declining enrollment in religious education, and the future of Jewish leadership training in the Midwest. Multiple national and local outlets have reported on the legal fight. These include WVXU, WLWT, Inside Higher Ed, and Spectrum News 1.
The college announced in 2022 that it would phase out its Cincinnati rabbinical program by the end of the 2025–26 academic year. School officials cited falling enrollment and financial pressures as reasons. They also mentioned shifting student preferences toward campuses in New York and Los Angeles. According to Inside Higher Ed, the Cincinnati campus will continue housing archives, libraries, and academic resources even after the rabbinical program ends.
Hebrew Union lawsuit challenges donor agreements
The Hebrew Union lawsuit claims the institution accepted millions of dollars in donations tied specifically to maintaining a rabbinical school in Cincinnati. Attorney General Yost argues that closing the program violates both Ohio charitable trust law and donor expectations. The complaint asks Hamilton County Common Pleas Court to block the sale of the campus. Additionally, it seeks to prevent restricted funds from being transferred to other campuses in New York, Los Angeles, or Jerusalem…