Hebrew Union College (HUC), the central rabbinical seminary of the Reform movement, has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the state of Ohio, arguing that the legal action interferes with foundational Jewish religious doctrine.
The legal dispute stems from accusations by the Ohio Attorney General’s office that HUC violated nonprofit regulations by closing degree-granting programs at its historic Cincinnati campus. HUC contends that the lawsuit violates the First Amendment by creating an unconstitutional entanglement between the government and religious affairs.
The action was initially launched in April by former Attorney General Dave Yost. This marked Yost’s second lawsuit against the college regarding its strategy to phase out Cincinnati operations to prioritize its campuses in New York and Los Angeles.
Yost alleged that HUC misled donors by continuing to fundraise in Cincinnati while planning its departure, and argued that the move breached the school’s charter, which committed the institution to “permanently maintain” a presence in the city.
The state is currently seeking to seize HUC’s Ohio assets and transfer them to a new, undecided nonprofit with a similar mission. A new rabbinical school founded by HUC alumni has already expressed interest in acquiring these assets.
In its motion, HUC described the state’s pursuit as an “unconstitutional and illegal governmental assault upon religion,” asserting that the Attorney General has no authority to dictate the internal affairs of a religious institution.
HUC maintains that the decision to close the Cincinnati campus was legally sound and notes that it will continue to maintain other local assets, including the Skirball Museum, the American Jewish Archives, and the Klau Library. Drawing on a Torah passage stating “God will come to his people wherever they welcome him,” the seminary argues that adapting to current Jewish demographic trends is a core part of its religious mission.
“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,” stated HUC president Andrew Rehfeld. He added that the lawsuit improperly interferes with the autonomy of a religious organization and must be challenged.
While Dave Yost resigned as Attorney General this week to join the conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom—which previously represented a Tennessee adoption agency that refused a Jewish couple in 2022—the lawsuit continues under the state’s Attorney General’s office.