CINCINNATI, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a second lawsuit seeking to stop Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion from permanently closing its 151-year-old Cincinnati campus, arguing the school has a legal and moral obligation to preserve its historic site.
Yost’s office announced Wednesday that the new complaint, filed in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, aims to prevent the seminary’s board from relocating programs and selling the property in the city’s Clifton neighborhood. The attorney general contends that the campus, founded in 1875, holds significant cultural and educational value as the birthplace of American Reform Judaism and should remain open under the terms of its charitable trust.
“Ohio’s charitable institutions cannot simply abandon their founding missions or disregard promises made to the community,” Yost said in a statement. “The Hebrew Union College campus in Cincinnati is part of Ohio’s history and deserves protection.”
The dispute stems from Hebrew Union College’s 2022 decision to consolidate operations in New York and Los Angeles due to declining enrollment and financial constraints. The institution has since maintained limited programming in Cincinnati but announced plans this spring to cease degree-granting operations there entirely.
HUC officials have argued the consolidation is necessary to ensure the longevity of the seminary’s mission and deny violating any charitable obligations. A spokesperson for the college said it is reviewing the latest legal filing and remains committed to “honoring the institution’s legacy in Cincinnati.”
The lawsuit marks Yost’s second attempt to intervene since the school signaled its intent to close the campus. His first suit, filed last year, remains pending.