News Summary
Lisa Rose, a Jewish children’s author, has filed a lawsuit against Hillel Day School and Lake Orion Community Schools, alleging violations of civil rights for being compelled to teach religious content in a public program meant for secular education. The case raises concerns about the misuse of taxpayer funds to promote a specific religious agenda. Rose claims that after expressing concerns about religious control over her teaching, she faced retaliation that led to her termination. The outcome of this lawsuit could significantly impact the separation of church and state within the educational system in Michigan.
Farmington Hills, Michigan – Lawsuit Filed Over Allegations of Forced Religious Instruction
Lisa Rose, a Jewish children’s author and public school teacher, has initiated a lawsuit against Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit and Lake Orion Community Schools. The legal action claims violations of civil rights and improper use of taxpayer dollars due to allegations that Rose was required to teach religious content in a state-funded program that is meant for secular education.
The case was filed in Oakland County Circuit Court, focusing on Michigan’s “shared-time” services program. This program allows public school districts to provide secular classes such as art and library science to private schools. Lake Orion Community Schools hired Rose to teach library classes at Hillel, a Jewish day school in Farmington Hills, in October 2022.
The lawsuit contends that Hillel treated Rose as a private religious instructor, mandating that she incorporate Jewish teachings into her curriculum and banning non-religious educational materials. Attorney Eric Stempien claimed in an arbitration demand that Hillel’s actions misused public funding to promote a specific religious agenda, thereby violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Details of the Allegations
Michigan law stipulates that shared-time services cannot enforce religious oversight and are designed to offer educational opportunities to all students, regardless of their school affiliation. Nonetheless, Hillel’s mission involves teaching Judaic values and advocating for Zionism, according to its official statements.
Issues for Rose arose after she invited a guest author to present “The Christmas Mitzvah,” a book that promotes the theme of kindness among different faiths. Hillel’s administrators canceled the event, considering it inappropriate due to the integration of Christmas and Jewish traditions. This action sparked controversy as Rose argued that it demonstrated religious control over her secular teaching role.
Rose reported that her direct supervisor at Hillel was Amira Soleimani, the Director of Judaic Studies, rather than any official from Lake Orion, which contradicts the shared-time agreement that requires oversight from the public school district.
After a Freedom of Information Act request was filed by Rose’s partner, it was revealed that the shared-time agreement forbids Hillel from requiring her to teach religious content. Furthermore, Lake Orion Community Schools reportedly did not supervise Rose or assess her job performance during her employment.
Termination and Retaliation Claims
Rose’s tenure at Hillel ended abruptly three days after she voiced her concerns regarding potential violations of the shared-time agreement. The school cited classroom management issues as the reason for her termination. Subsequently, Lake Orion placed Rose on administrative leave before laying her off about a month later.
In her lawsuit, Rose alleged multiple offenses including religious discrimination, retaliation, fraudulent misrepresentation, defamation, and emotional distress against Hillel. She also claims that Lake Orion failed to properly oversee the program, leading to her employment issues.
Rose is not only seeking damages but also aims to overturn a prior arbitration decision that dismissed her claims. The outcome of this case could have broader implications for the separation of church and state in Michigan’s educational system, particularly regarding the appropriate use of public funds for religious instruction.
Impact on Personal and Professional Life
Rose has shared feelings of marginalization within the Jewish community due to backlash stemming from her lawsuit. She has indicated that the controversy has negatively impacted her reputation and personal life.
As the legal proceedings move forward, Hillel Day School has yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit, while Lake Orion Community Schools limited its response to inquiries. Additionally, Hillel has filed a separate lawsuit against Rose’s partner, alleging trespassing on school property and misrepresentation as a licensed attorney.
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HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Metro Times: Lawsuit Accuses Jewish School
- Wikipedia: Religious Freedom in the United States
- The Jewish News: Allison Bloomberg
- Google Search: Religious Instruction in Public Schools
- Detroit Free Press: Lawsuit Overview
- Google Scholar: First Amendment Establishment Clause
- New York Times: DEI at University of Michigan
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Establishment Clause
- Detroit News: University of Michigan Spending
- Google News: Hillel Day School Lawsuit
Author: STAFF HERE DETROITMI WRITER
DETROIT STAFF WRITER The DETROIT STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDetroitMI.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Detroit, Wayne County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Movement Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Grand Prix, and America's Thanksgiving Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Detroit Regional Chamber and Focus HOPE, plus leading businesses in automotive and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Henry Ford Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
