Ohio AG Sues Hebrew Union College to Block Cincinnati Campus Sale

Historical Significance of HUC-JIR's Cincinnati Campus

Hebrew Union College, now HUC-JIR, traces its roots to Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, who established it in Cincinnati as the first permanent rabbinical school in the United States. Wise, an immigrant from Bohemia, envisioned a center for Reform Judaism amid the 19th-century influx of Jewish immigrants to the Midwest. The campus at 3101 Clifton Avenue spans seven acres and has long served as a hub for scholarship in Bible studies, rabbinics, Jewish history, thought, and liturgy.

Key assets include the Klau Library, boasting one of the world's premier collections of Hebraica and Judaica; the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives; and the Skirball Museum. These resources have drawn scholars globally, supporting graduate studies in Jewish philosophy, theology, and history through the Pines School of Graduate Studies. The campus also features unique facilities like the Archaeology Center and a community garden fostering engagement.

For over 150 years, Cincinnati symbolized Reform Judaism's heartland presence, training rabbis for congregations far from coastal centers. A pivotal 1950 agreement during consolidation with New York's Hebrew Union College explicitly required the institution to "permanently maintain" a rabbinical school in Cincinnati, attracting millions in donor gifts tied to that promise.

Financial Strains and the 2022 Restructuring Announcement

By 2022, HUC-JIR faced acute challenges: a record $8.8 million deficit and a 37% drop in rabbinical student enrollment over 15 years. Officials cited shifting student preferences toward coastal campuses in New York, Los Angeles, and Jerusalem, prompting a board vote to eliminate degree-granting programs in Cincinnati by the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

President Andrew Rehfeld emphasized a "reimagining" of the campus, retaining non-degree study sessions, the library, archives, and museum while launching a virtual national rabbinical program. "We recognize the pain that this decision causes," Rehfeld stated, pledging sensitive implementation with community input. The move aimed to consolidate resources amid broader declines in seminary enrollment, a trend affecting many faith-based higher education programs.

Prior Legal Clash: The 2024 Klau Library Dispute

Yost's office first intervened in 2024, suing to block the potential sale of rare Jewish books and manuscripts from the Klau Library. Donors had restricted these assets for Cincinnati use, and the AG argued relocation or sales violated Ohio charitable trust laws. The case settled in October 2025, with HUC-JIR agreeing to notify the AG 45 days before any sales or removals, maintain detailed records for seven years, and limit proceeds to library acquisitions unless a two-thirds board vote declared financial exigency.

This precedent set the stage for the current suit, reinforcing state oversight of nonprofit higher ed assets. It highlighted risks when institutions repurpose donor-restricted funds amid fiscal woes, a recurring issue in U.S. colleges facing demographic shifts and rising costs.

Core Claims in the 2026 Lawsuit

The new complaint alleges HUC-JIR's 2022 board action—removing the "permanent maintenance" clause from founding documents—breached the 1950 agreement and Ohio's Uniform Trust Code, which safeguards donor intent. Yost claims the college diverted restricted Cincinnati donations to other campuses, pursuing a sale or lease of the Clifton Avenue property. "Hebrew Union accepted millions of dollars in donations based on a 76-year-old promise it now would like to break," Yost declared.

Sought remedies include: injunctions against property sales/leases and out-of-state fund transfers; full accounting of Ohio assets; court-ordered redirection to a permanent Cincinnati rabbinical program. The suit positions the state as protector of charitable trusts, common in higher ed where endowments often carry strings attached by philanthropists.

Legal Framework: Ohio Charitable Trust Laws

Ohio law, including the Uniform Trust Code (ORC Chapter 5801 et seq.), mandates nonprofits honor donor restrictions on gifts. Courts interpret "permanent" language strictly, as in cases like Attorney General v. Hildreth (1967), where similar diversions were blocked. Yost invokes cy pres doctrine sparingly, arguing no changed circumstances justify deviation here.

This framework applies broadly to U.S. higher ed nonprofits, where AGs enforce trusts for over 1,500 religious colleges. Recent examples include suits against Catholic universities repurposing seminary funds, reflecting heightened scrutiny amid $1.7 trillion in sector endowments.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Community Backlash

Alumni and Reform leaders decried the 2022 closure as abandoning Midwest Jewish communities. Rabbi Sally Priesand, HUC's first female ordinand (1972), co-founded the College for Contemporary Judaism (CCJ) as an independent Cincinnati alternative, emphasizing liberal Judaism, Israel support, and coastal-to-heartland service. CCJ plans to leverage HUC's library/archives.

HUC-JIR has not publicly responded to the suit but maintains restructuring preserves core missions. Local Jewish federations worry about rabbinical pipeline disruptions, with Ohio's 150+ Reform synagogues reliant on regional training.

Impacts on Jewish Higher Education and Enrollment Trends

U.S. rabbinical enrollment fell 40% since 2006 (HUC data), mirroring seminary declines: 25% drop in Protestant programs (ATS 2025). Factors include rising antisemitism, career shifts, and virtual alternatives. Cincinnati's closure exacerbates Midwest shortages, where 20% of Reform rabbis serve.

CCJ's emergence signals adaptation, potentially partnering with remaining HUC assets if courts rule favorably.

Broader Implications for U.S. Higher Education Nonprofits

This case exemplifies state AG activism in higher ed governance, with 15 suits in 2025 alone over endowments. Lessons for colleges: rigorous donor intent audits, transparent restructurings. As religious institutions (10% of U.S. colleges) face 15% enrollment drops, balancing missions with solvency grows critical.

Potential outcomes: court-upheld restrictions bolstering donor protections; or cy pres approval if HUC proves impossibility, redirecting funds equivalently.

Photo by Brad Switzer on Unsplash

Future Outlook and Possible Resolutions

Hearing pending, resolution could take months. HUC might negotiate, selling non-core assets while retaining programs. CCJ offers continuity, possibly absorbing roles. For higher ed, it spotlights niche program sustainability amid $100B+ annual deficits sector-wide.

Stakeholders watch closely: success for AG could embolden interventions; HUC victory might accelerate consolidations. Either way, Cincinnati's rabbinical legacy endures through adaptation.