California state court rejects attack on millennia-old orthodox Jewish ceremony

Decision protects California synagogue against challenges to its religious exercise by those who disagree with its religious practices 

Santa Ana, CA – On Friday, June 23, a California state court rejected an activist organization’s challenge to an ancient religious ceremony practiced by a small Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Irvine, California.  The challenge to the synagogue, represented by First Liberty Institute, could have threatened the religious practices of every house of worship across the state.  The court’s decision is the second court since May to reject a lawsuit brought against the synagogue by activists who sought to end a millennia-old Orthodox Jewish ceremony. Read the court’s order here. 

“We are thrilled that, once again, another court has seen the importance of protecting our ability to practice a cherished tradition of our faith,” Rabbi Alter Tenenbaum, the rabbi of the Chabad of Irvine, says. “As we live in peace and tolerance with one another, we hope these legal victories strengthen and encourage the religious liberty of everyone.”   

The synagogue was represented at trial by Leslie Keith Kaufman of Kaufman & Kaufman and Stephanie Taub of the national religious freedom law firm First Liberty Institute.  

“Targeted attacks on a religious sect should be rejected by every American,” Stephanie Taub, counsel to First Liberty says. “Protecting a millennia-old religious tradition is a victory, not just for the Chabad of Irvine, but for all Californians.” 

Had the lawsuit been successful, the synagogue’s religious ceremony would have been declared a “business practice,” putting at risk the religious practices of every mosque, church, temple, synagogue, or house of worship. The lawsuit attempted to transform these non-profit religious ceremonies into government-regulated business practices whenever a place of worship accepts voluntary donations, tithes, or offerings. The lawsuit is the second in just over a month to come to a conclusion in favor of Chabad of Irvine.  On May 12, 2017, a federal district court judge dismissed a similar lawsuit, filed by another activist organization.  After one day of trial, California state judge Martha K. Gooding of the Superior Court of California, Orange County, ruled in favor of the Chabad of Irvine. 

As the court concluded, “[M]any religious services or ceremonies result  in donations being solicited and made . . . But that does not convert those religious activities, rituals and observances into business practices.  They remain religious activities, rituals and observances.”

Read more about both cases at FirstLiberty.org/Chabad