Ohio Attorney General Sues Hebrew Union College Over Cincinnati Campus Closure

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a second lawsuit against Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in an effort to prevent the closure of its historic Cincinnati campus, which has been operational for 151 years. The lawsuit, filed in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, alleges that the college's plans to shutter its rabbinical program by the end of the 2026 academic year violate state charitable laws. Yost contends that HUC has misappropriated donations intended for the Cincinnati campus, which were made under the belief that the campus would be permanently maintained.

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Yost's office stated, “Hebrew Union accepted millions of dollars in donations based on a 76-year-old promise it now would like to break,” emphasizing the importance of keeping the college's assets in Cincinnati. The lawsuit seeks to bar HUC from closing the campus and to ensure that any restricted donations remain in the state.

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In 2022, HUC leadership announced the decision to discontinue degree-granting programs at the Cincinnati campus, citing a shift in student interest towards its campuses in New York and Los Angeles. The college has pledged to maintain its archives and library but has also pursued plans to sell property across its campuses. This decision has faced backlash from leaders within the Reform movement, who argue that the college is abandoning its foundational principles.

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The college's board removed a clause from its 1950 Consolidation Agreement, which had committed to maintaining rabbinical schools in both Cincinnati and New York. The last four rabbinical students at the Cincinnati campus are set to be ordained in May 2026, marking the end of an era for the institution.

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In response to HUC's closure plans, former Ohio leaders and Reform movement figures have announced the establishment of a new rabbinical school in Cincinnati, named The College for Contemporary Judaism (CCJ). The college aims to serve the liberal American Jewish community, particularly in regions where access to rabbinical education is limited. Founders include Rabbi Sally Priesand, the first female rabbi ordained by HUC, and Rabbi Gary Zola, who will serve as CCJ's founding president.

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CCJ intends to focus on "Liberal Judaism" and emphasizes its commitment to the well-being of the Jewish and democratic State of Israel. The founders have highlighted Cincinnati's historical significance to American Judaism, noting that Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise established the Reform movement there.

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Critics, including Gary Zola, have expressed concerns over HUC's plans, arguing that the college's actions contradict the intentions of donors who supported rabbinical education in Cincinnati. Zola remarked, “If there are no students, if there are no academic programs... and nothing exists here, I certainly can understand the attorney general's point of view.”

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Yost's lawsuit follows a previous legal action in 2024, which aimed to prevent the sale of rare books from HUC's Klau Library. That case was settled with an agreement requiring HUC to notify the attorney general's office before selling any items from its collection. The ongoing legal disputes highlight the tensions surrounding HUC's financial decisions and the future of rabbinical education in Cincinnati.

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“Hebrew Union accepted millions of dollars in donations based on a 76-year-old promise it now would like to break,” — Dave Yost, Ohio Attorney General

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“While we cannot comment directly on the lawsuit filed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost against Hebrew Union College, it is vitally important that assets subject to the lawsuit are used as originally intended: to support a strong, thriving rabbinical school in Cincinnati.” — Founders of The College for Contemporary Judaism

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