Uncategorized
Was this Ohio magistrate fired for being Jewish? A federal jury said yes.
(JTA) – An Ohio woman who alleged six years ago that she had been fired because she was an observant Jew has won $1.1 million in damages after a federal jury sided with her.
Kimberly Edelstein had been working as a magistrate in Butler County, Ohio, when she asked her supervisor — a judge — for eight days off during the fall High Holidays, according to the lawsuit she filed in 2017.
“Holy cow, eight days!” Common Pleas Judge Greg Stephens yelled back at her, according to the lawsuit. She was fired four days later and claims the judge and two prosecutors named in the lawsuit disparaged her to other employers, making it difficult for her to find work.
Her lawsuit spun through the court system where she once worked for the next several years. Judges dismissed Edelstein’s claims against one prosecutor and ruled against her appeal of the case against the other. But they allowed her religious discrimination claim against Judge Stephens to go forward to a jury trial, saying there was evidence that could find the judge’s dismissal “at least in part” motivated by Edelstein’s desire to observe the Jewish holidays.
The trial against Judge Stephens began Jan. 23 and included testimony from a rabbi. The jury returned its verdict late on Friday, taking less than a day to deliberate.
“The jury’s finding is an important reminder that the law provides protections to those seeking accommodations for religious beliefs and practices,” Rabbi Ari Ballaban, director of the Cincinnati Jewish Community Relations Council, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in a statement. “Neither employers nor government institutions may retaliate against Jews (or other religious minorities) for seeking to exercise their protected religious rights.”
The jury’s finding comes amid growing attention to workplace antisemitism. A recent nonscientific survey found that a significant portion of hiring managers said they are less likely to advance candidates who are Jewish; while the survey had flaws, it ignited a conversation about whether workplace antisemitism could be rising alongside other expressions of antisemitism in the United States.
Edelstein’s case has cost Butler County, located outside Cincinnati, at least $100,000 in legal fees to date, according to local reports, and more than 200 documents have been filed. It may not be totally over.
“We strongly believe that the evidence didn’t support the verdict and we’re considering options,” an attorney representing Judge Stephens told the Journal-News, a local paper.
Edelstein’s case had been met with some skepticism from the local legal community. She “had a very poor reputation around the courthouse,” Daniel Phillips, a Jewish former assistant prosecuting attorney in Butler County, wrote in a 2019 letter to Cincinnati’s Jewish newspaper, the American Israelite.
“Many people advised Judge Stephens to terminate her when he took office. He rejected that advice and gave her a clean slate and an opportunity to succeed,” Phillips wrote at the time. “When she failed to act in [a] professional manner and produce quality work, he fired her. Because of her failures she is now besmirching three good men with the taint of racism. That is shameful.” Phillips was elected to the position of county juvenile court judge last year.
Court filings show that Edelstein accused Stephens, who is also a Baptist pastor, of “extreme Christian” beliefs and of following a doctrine with an “attitude toward Jews,” and also said that his court had made fun of her description of Passover preparations.
In 2019, as her lawsuit was making its way through the courts, Edelstein told the Cincinnati Enquirer she had experienced suicidal thoughts after being unable to find work. She applied for nearly 200 jobs in the aftermath of her firing but didn’t get any of them, she said, adding that she had resorted to using food pantries to feed her family. Court documents showed that Jewish Vocational Services, a local nonprofit, was reluctant to help her for fear of litigation.
“I’ve lost my career and I didn’t do anything to deserve this,” she told the Enquirer. She also reportedly told friends she wished she wasn’t Jewish and stopped going to synagogue. Subsequent posts on her Facebook page indicate she has continued to observe at least some Jewish practices.
Edelstein did manage to briefly land one legal job, in a courthouse near Bowling Green, but lied to her bosses about being fired from her previous job and was forced to resign months later.
Edelstein has mostly represented herself in these proceedings. She briefly retained the services of a local attorney who left the case after five weeks, telling the judge that “the client does not cooperate with counsel.”
—
The post Was this Ohio magistrate fired for being Jewish? A federal jury said yes. appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Uncategorized
Indiana University Discloses Institutional Ties to Hamas-Linked Group
Indiana University campus on Dec. 2, 2025. Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Connect
Indiana University disclosed the results of an internal investigation this week into a controversial partnership with the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative, confirming reports that the organization maintains ties to the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
In a letter dated April 3 to Indiana state lawmakers, university officials said the inquiry was launched after concerns were raised about the organization’s coordination with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The review focused on the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative’s connections with the nonprofit group United Mission Relief and Development as well as entities linked with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a militant group from northwest Syria.
Formerly an al-Qaeda affiliate, HTS was proscribed by the US government until last year, when it’s designation as a foreign terrorist group was revoked.
Indiana University’s Muslim Philanthropy Initiative (MPI) operates as part of the school’s philanthropy school. MPI focuses on research, education, and professional training related to Muslim philanthropic traditions, an area it describes as historically underexamined in academic and nonprofit sectors.
The initiative offers workshops on fundraising and philanthropic leadership, with an emphasis on Islamic and Muslim charitable practices. Since its founding, MPI says it has trained more than 3,500 nonprofit professionals across more than 30 countries, disseminating programming which includes webinars and an annual symposium dedicated to contemporary Muslim philanthropy and civil society. The initiative’s stated mission is to equip nonprofit leaders, organizations, and communities with research and practical tools to better understand and develop Muslim philanthropy.
According to the university’s findings, the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative worked in 2025 with United Mission for Relief and Development to organize training sessions in Istanbul and Indonesia. That organization recommended Hayat Yolu as a local partner. At the time, according to the university, staff relied on assurances that the group was legitimate and conducted its own limited vetting.
However, on March 12, the US Treasury Department designated Hayat Yolu, effectively barring Americans from engaging in transactions with the organization. The designation raised alarm about the university’s prior involvement, even though the trainings occurred months earlier. The department also issued a statement describing Hayat Yolu as one of three Turkish nonprofit organizations that “have provided significant material support to Hamas.”
According to the statement, overseas “sham charities” such as Hayat Yolu are a “key element” in how Hamas fundraises. The department added that the group provides banking and financial support for the Muslim Brotherhood, some of whose branches have been designated as terrorist groups.
Indiana University stressed that its Office of the General Counsel determined no state or federal laws were violated, noting that all activity predated the Treasury prohibiting American involvement with the group. The university also stated it immediately ceased any engagement once the designation was announced and suspended related programming.
Still, the findings highlight what critics may see as a troubling lapse in judgment at a time when US institutions face increasing scrutiny over indirect links to extremist networks. Pro-Israel advocates and national security analysts have long warned that charitable and educational partnerships can be exploited by actors connected to terrorism, particularly in regions where oversight is limited.
The university itself acknowledged shortcomings in its report. Investigators found that Indiana University relied too heavily on decentralized vetting processes and government lists, rather than conducting deeper, centralized due diligence on high-risk international partnerships.
In response, Indiana University outlined a series of reforms aimed at preventing similar situations. These include expanding the authority of its Research Security Office, implementing stricter review procedures for international partnerships, and requiring additional training for faculty and staff involved in global programs.
The university is also reviewing oversight of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative specifically, including whether to integrate its activities more closely into other institutional structures to ensure tighter control.
Indiana state Rep. Andrew Ireland spearheaded the effort to probe MPI and expressed appreciation for the university taking steps to address the issue.
BIG UPDATE: After our letter demanding answers, Indiana University confirmed its Muslim Philanthropy Initiative partnered with and accepted travel benefits from a Hamas-linked “sham charity.”
Now IU is:
halting all training activities and new partnerships
— Andrew Ireland (@AndrewIrelandIN) April 6, 2026
The episode comes amid heightened sensitivity in the United States over any institutional ties to organizations operating in conflict zones or linked to extremist groups hostile to the US, Israel and their allies. While the university maintains it acted in good faith based on the information available at the time, the case underscores how quickly reputational and security risks can emerge.
Indiana University officials said they are committed to ensuring future partnerships “demonstrate transparency and integrity.”
Uncategorized
Zelenskyy Marks Passover With Jewish Leaders, Receives First Ukrainian-Language Torah
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds the first-ever Ukrainian-language Torah while meeting with rabbis and Jewish community leaders to celebrate Passover, honoring the resilience of Jewish communities amid the ongoing war. Photo: Screenshot
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with rabbis and other Jewish leaders from across the country to celebrate Passover, receiving the first-ever Ukrainian-language Torah and honoring the enduring strength of Jewish communities amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
On Monday, Zelenskyy met with members of Ukraine’s Jewish community for the annual Passover celebration, the fifth held amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. He honored the holiday, which commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from Egypt, and praised the community’s courage and resilience in the face of war.
“Today, this is very important for Ukraine. Freedom is what we are fighting for as a nation, and we are grateful for your support — not only of your communities but of our people and our state. Your solidarity matters greatly,” Zelenskyy said.
On the occasion of Passover, I met with rabbis from Ukrainian cities and representatives of Jewish communities.
Passover is about the triumph of freedom. This is exactly what all of Ukraine is fighting for today. I thanked the Jewish community for standing united with us in this… pic.twitter.com/eyAzmcRR1g
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 6, 2026
Despite the immense challenges facing Ukraine, Meier Stambler, head of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), emphasized that the country’s statehood and freedom remain intact and that the Jewish community will continue praying and working toward the nation’s ultimate victory.
“Freedom begins within each of us, and we are proud to live in Ukraine during this challenging time. It is an honor to be part of this country, having built our lives and families here, and we remain confident in a just peace and true victory,” Stambler said.
Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Asman also emphasized the nation’s resilience and hope, urging Ukrainians to stay united in the face of the ongoing war.
“The war will end, and there will be a victory for Ukraine. God bless us. All regimes must fall – and then the entire axis of evil will crumble,” Asman said.
On Passover, the FJCU, together with Chabad emissaries — religious representatives of the global Hasidic movement — provided matzah and holiday kits to over 50,000 Jewish households across Ukraine and organized dozens of large public Seders that drew large crowds.
Uncategorized
‘Antisemitism Is Repellent and Dangerous’: Catholic University of America Rejects Accusations of Anti-Jewish Bias
A general view of the Catholic University of America (CUA) campus in Washington, DC. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC denied that recent conflicts with its Students Supporting Israel (SSI) chapter were indicative of institutional antisemitism in a recent statement to The Algemeiner which proclaimed its support for Israel and staunch opposition to rising anti-Jewish hatred in academia and across the Western world.
As previously reported, SSI’s leader, Felipe Avila, publicly accused the university of withholding approval to host events on combating antisemitism and defending Israeli security unless it agreed to feature “opposing viewpoints,” a stipulation that he said would require platforming antisemites or declining to hold events at all.
The cause was picked up by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), which sent the university a blistering demand letter accusing of it chilling free speech and violating its values.
Last week, the university told The Algemeiner that it was sensitive to the appearance created by the dispute and had never been antisemitic or anti-Israel. The school stressed that it would continue to provide robust support for Jewish student groups on campus while holding other events which raise awareness of antisemitism in a manner consistent with its tradition of civil dialogue.
“The Catholic University of America welcomes people of all faiths and stands firmly against antisemitism. We take seriously the safety and dignity of our Jewish students and every member of our community,” a chief communications official said. “Antisemitism is repellent and dangerous. We are committed to confronting it in ways consistent with our Catholic mission and belief in the dignity of every human person.”
The statement came weeks after Pope Leo XIV in January marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day with a statement reaffirming the Catholic Church’s “unwavering” opposition to antisemitism.
The university has held two major events on antisemitism this academic year, including a “Discussion on Campus Antisemitism” in March and “The Church and the Jewish Community in Our Age: A Conversation” in November, with the latter being attended by Catholic bishops, Jewish rabbis, and an official representing the American Jewish Committee (AJC). Its faculty have published commentaries on antisemitism and participated in litigating antisemitism lawsuits brought during encampments of the 2023-2024 academic year.
Meanwhile, the school’s president, Peter Kilpatrick, was one of the few higher education chief executives to condemn unequivocally Hamas’s “kidnapping and maiming of so many innocent people” during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre across southern Israel.
“Hamas is a terrorist organization and seeks the annihilation of the state of Israel,” Kilpatrick wrote in a letter to the campus community on Oct. 12, 2023. “Its abhorrent acts of terrorism against Israel merit the strongest condemnation. There is no justification for the acts of violence against innocent civilians that we witnessed this week. As the Holy Father [Pope Francis at the time] noted Wednesday, Israel had a right to self-defense.”
A source familiar with the situation on campus told The Algemeiner that the university’s principal concern with SSI events is their tendency to cause shouting matches and confrontations which require the intervention of campus security, adding that its student leader — who once told Inside Higher Ed, “We haven’t been shy about embracing controversy” — is a keen activist. The source also noted that a communication suggesting that SSI would be forced to platform an anti-Zionist was made in error and not reflective of university policy.
However, the university has seen some strong expressions of anti-Zionism. In October, the student government considered a resolution, sponsored by Senator Joseph Ortiz, to ban pro-Israel organizations from campus on the grounds that they support a country “actively pursuing inexcusable evil, such as genocide or terrorism.” The resolution was ultimately tabled.
“We have invited Students Supporting Israel to submit a restructured proposal, and to work within University processes to host a thoughtful conversation,” the university spokesperson said of the recent controversy. “As a private, religious institution, Catholic University is well within its rights to approve or deny any speaker request. We are confident we’ll reach a resolution quickly through good faith dialogue.”
The university’s statements come at a time when some Catholic organizations in the US and outspoken Catholic commentators, such as Candace Owens and Nick Fuentes, have been promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories and using their faith as a reason to oppose Zionism.
Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJPierre.