California appeals court revives lawsuit over rabbi’s alleged destruction of woman's protest signs

A California appeals court has revived parts of a lawsuit filed by Sandra Bell against Rabbi Netanel Louie and the Hebrew Discovery Center. Bell alleged that Rabbi Louie tore up her protest signs during a 2022 demonstration against kapparot, a Jewish atonement ritual involving chickens, outside his Woodland Hills synagogue. The signs read, for example, “Chickens Cannot Atone for Your Sins—Primitive, Cruel Nonsense.” The Second District Court of Appeal ruled on September 11 that a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge erred in dismissing some claims, directing the lower court to allow Bell to amend certain allegations and reinstating others. The appeals court found Bell sufficiently alleged a Ralph Act claim, stating Louie physically destroyed her property due to her political affiliation as an animal-rights activist.