Photo credit: Warren LeMay, Wikimedia Commons
Klau Library Building, Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, OH
By Melissa Hunter
Assistant Editor
On July 18, 2024, the State of Ohio and Hebrew Union College (HUC) entered into an agreed order for a period of approximately six months. This comes after Attorney General Dave Yost filed a complaint against HUC’s Klau library resulting in a restraining order preventing the library from deaccession or selling off its collection. HUC has denied the allegations contained in the complaint. Both parties have agreed to resolve certain issues to “avoid the costs, burdens, and risks of a preliminary injunction hearing.” During the six month period, HUC will not “sell, transfer, remove from Ohio, or dispose of” items in its Klau Library, including the items that were inventoried by Sharon Liberman Mintz, Shaul Seidler-Feller, or Sotheby’s. Transfer of any item or proceeds from any sale will only be permissible with advance written notice (of 30 days) and an opportunity to inspect said items, as well as approval by the Attorney General’s office. According to the Agreed Order for Preliminary Injunction, the expiration of the order takes place “six months from the date of the signed entry, unless terminated earlier by the Court or extended upon motion or by agreement.”
This is a developing story. The American Israelite will continue to cover the case and share information as it becomes available.
