Lubavitch-Chabad of IL v. Northwestern Univ., No. 14-1055 (7th Cir. 2014)
Annotate this CaseThe Chabad branch of Hasidic Judaism emphasizes mysticism over legalism. There are Chabad emissaries on many college campuses where they manage Chabad houses. Tannenbaum Chabad House, near Northwestern University’s Evanston campus, has been run by Rabbi Klein since 1985. Northwestern paid Sodexo to provide food for its students and Sodexo paid Klein for rabbinic supervision of its provision of kosher food. Northwestern reimbursed Sodexo . In 2001 the university learned that underage students had vomited after excessive consumption of alcohol at Tannenbaum; one was hospitalized. In 2005, at a university dining hall, alcohol was served to underage students, although Klein had assured officials that no alcohol would be served. Although the chaplain warned Klein, hard liquor continued to be served to students on Jewish holidays and Friday evenings. Klein made no effort to limit consumption and drank with the students. After another rabbi complained, the university informed Klein that unless he was replaced, the university would terminate Chabad House's recognition. Klein remained and, in 2012, the university terminated recognition, access to various Northwestern facilities and services, and the Sodexo contract. In a suit under 42 U.S.C. 1981 and 42 U.S.C. 2000d, the district court granted the defendants summary judgment. The Seventh Circuit affirmed.
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