Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, through its Institute for Public Affairs, criticized the American Civil Liberties Union for filing a lawsuit against Yeshiva University, the nation’s largest university under Orthodox Jewish auspices.

The suit relates to the university’s campus housing policy at its Albert Einstein Medical School campus. At the medical school campus, married students together with their non-married family members are offered on campus housing.

The school does not offer such housing to non-married couples, whether heterosexual or homosexual.

The ACLU has sued Yeshiva University, claiming that the fact that it offers campus housing to married heterosexuals but not to homosexuals who have entered into a “partnership” arrangement, constitutes illegal discrimination upon the basis of sexual orientation.

Richard Stone, chairman of the Institute for Public Affairs, stated that “the lawsuit brought by the A.C.L.U. is inappropriate because it is disrespectful of a religiously affiliated educational institution. By demanding that Yeshiva University provide housing for homosexual partners, the A.C.L.U. is asking the school to sacrifice its religious
values – values protected by the U.S. Constitution – that preclude offering housing to unmarried couples irrespective of their sexual orientation. This is wrongheaded and the lawsuit should be withdrawn.”

Nathan Diament, director of the Institute for Public Affairs, stated that the “Orthodox Union is prepared to assist Yeshiva in defending its right to conduct its affairs in consonance with its religious values.”