Orthodox Jewish Man's Prayer Services Case Heads to Supreme Court

Daniel Grand, an Orthodox Jewish resident of University Heights, Ohio, has been embroiled in a legal dispute regarding his right to host prayer services in his home. In January 2021, Grand began inviting a group of Jewish men for Shabbat services, prompting the city to issue a cease-and-desist order based on zoning laws that prohibited such gatherings without a permit. Although Grand initially sought a special use permit to designate his home as a place of religious assembly, he later withdrew the application, stating he did not wish to operate a house of worship as defined by the zoning ordinance.

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In September 2022, Grand filed a lawsuit against the city and former Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan, alleging that Brennan's actions were motivated by "animus against Orthodox Jews." Grand contended that the city's enforcement of zoning laws was part of a broader effort to suppress the growth of the Orthodox community in University Heights. The case has seen various legal proceedings, culminating in a ruling by the US District Court of Northern Ohio in October 2024, which favored the city. This ruling was upheld by the Ohio 6th District Court of Appeals in November 2025. Currently, a petition for Supreme Court review is pending, with a decision expected in the coming months.

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The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC), alongside the Orthodox Union and the National Council of Young Israel, has filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to take up Grand's case. Rabbi Mark Goldfeder, CEO of NJAC, emphasized that Grand's situation reflects a broader trend of municipalities using zoning laws to restrict Orthodox Jewish practices. Michele Weiss, the current mayor of University Heights and the first female Orthodox Jewish mayor in the United States, expressed support for the right to worship in homes, likening it to informal gatherings like book clubs. Weiss noted that there is at least one residence in the city with a special permit for worship and another currently applying.

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Former Mayor Brennan has faced significant criticism from the Jewish community during his tenure. He was previously censured by the city council for inappropriate language and faced backlash for comments regarding voters in a heavily Jewish neighborhood who supported Donald Trump. Additionally, he accused the volunteer-run Jewish ambulance service Hatzalah of jeopardizing public safety, further straining relations with the community.

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This case highlights ongoing tensions between local governance and religious freedoms, particularly for visible minority groups. David Benger, litigation counsel at NJAC, stated that the case merits Supreme Court review due to the recurring constraints on Jewish religious practices across the country, often through the neutral application of regulations that disproportionately affect Jewish communities.

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• “What happened to Daniel Grand is not an isolated incident,” — Rabbi Mark Goldfeder, CEO of NJAC

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• “This case deserves Supreme Court review because, across the country, Jewish religious practice has repeatedly been constrained through the neutral application of rules in ways that disproportionately burden visible Jewish life,” — David Benger, Litigation Counsel at NJAC

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• “My perspective is that everyone has a right to worship in their home with a small group of people (a minyan) without city involvement, just like a book club might do,” — Michele Weiss, Mayor of University Heights

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