Ohio AG Questions Plan by Hebrew Union College to End Training Rabbinical Students in Cincinnati

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports that Hebrew Union College‘s board of governors has voted to end training rabbinical students at its campus in Cincinnati, over objections from some HUC faculty, staff, and alumni, and questions from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost about whether this move violates a 1950 merger agreement with the Jewish Institute in New York. HUC plans to continue to maintain the Klau Library, Skirball Museum, and American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati. Going forward, the rabbinical training will occur at the New York and Los Angeles campuses of HUC.

The news stories do not provide a link to the letter sent by the Ohio AG, but provide this summary of the letter’s content:

In a letter sent to top HUC administration this week and obtained by Cincinnati’s WCPO, Yost’s office suggested that HUC could be in violation of its 1950 merger agreement with the Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. In that agreement, HUC had assured donors that the combined institution would “permanently maintain rabbinical schools” in both cities.

The state’s Charitable Law Section chief Daniel Fausey wrote in the letter that the attorney general’s interest in the case was in “ensuring that charities honor the intent of benefactors and serve the interest of intended beneficiaries.”

Additional coverage: WCPOCincinnati.com.

Lloyd Mayer