Orthodox Jewish group urges federal appeals court to protect religious hiring rights in Christian ministry case

The Aleph Institute, a national Orthodox Jewish organization, has filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to protect the religious hiring rights of Union Gospel Mission of Yakima, a Christian ministry in Washington state. The case, scheduled for rehearing in September 2026, concerns the ministry's ability to hire only employees who share its religious beliefs, challenging Washington state’s anti-discrimination law. The Aleph Institute argues that courts should not become “entangled in religious matters” or second-guess the practices of religious communities, stating, "Under the First Amendment, a religious organization must have the freedom to hire individuals who share and live out their beliefs." The organization warns that a ruling against the mission could threaten religious autonomy across various traditions, including Jewish institutions.