Story perspectives

Ohio AG Sues to Block Closure of Historic Jewish College

4/17/2026

Summary

Yost Blocks Campus Closure

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit to block Hebrew Union College's Cincinnati campus closure, citing donor intent and a 1950 agreement to maintain it.
The suit argues shutting the campus would end a 150-year-old rabbinical program.
In response, Jewish leaders are creating the College for Contemporary Judaism in Cincinnati to provide rabbinical education focused on liberal Judaism, unaffiliated with any denomination, and to offer scholarships and community engagement.

Summary

Trump Cancels Migrant Services

The U.S. President Donald Trump administration canceled an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities in Miami, disrupting services for unaccompanied migrant children.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski criticized the decision as increasing trauma for vulnerable children.
The program has operated for nearly 70 years, helping thousands of children and serving as a model for similar initiatives.
The closure could cost 112 jobs and broader community programs; local Congress members urge funding reinstatement.

History

Historical Context

In 1950, Hebrew Union College secured its Cincinnati campus, vital for its 150-year-old rabbinical program, amidst ongoing debates over donor intent. This reflects broader tensions in religious education, echoed by the Trump administration's 2020 cancellation of an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities, disrupting nearly 70 years of support for unaccompanied migrant children and highlighting conflicts between institutional commitments and government actions.

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Yost Blocks Campus Closure

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit to block Hebrew Union College's Cincinnati campus closure, citing donor intent and a 1950 agreement to maintain it.
The suit argues shutting the campus would end a 150-year-old rabbinical program.
In response, Jewish leaders are creating the College for Contemporary Judaism in Cincinnati to provide rabbinical education focused on liberal Judaism, unaffiliated with any denomination, and to offer scholarships and community engagement.

1 / 3