Jewish Nurse Files Lawsuit Over Reprimand and Pay Cut Following Support for Israel

A nurse of Jewish faith from Long Island has filed a lawsuit alleging that her employer, NYU Langone Hospital in Mineola, unfairly reprimanded her and reduced her compensation after she publicly expressed support for Israel.

Leviah Ehrlich, 27, posted on her private Instagram account following the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people. In her message, she stated, “You either stand with Israel or you stand with terrorism,” alongside symbols of the Star of David and Hamas.

Nyu Langone sign in Mineola — The nurse claimed she was ordered to repay a raise after posting in support of Israel.

Later that same day, Ehrlich shared a photo of an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas, who she identified as a former classmate from high school. The hospital’s human resources representatives later confronted her, claiming her post was “wrought with bias and hatred.”

In December, she was issued a written warning and was required to publish a formal apology, using language provided by the hospital that referred to “innocent people from both Israel and Palestine.”

Survivors fleeing at the Nova Music Festival — Ehrlich posted an Instagram photo a few days after the Hamas attack, showing survivors at the Nova Music Festival.

The hospital then informed Ehrlich that her previous $6,000 raise, awarded a month prior to the attack, would be rescinded and that she was required to pay back the amount. She maintains she did not engage in hateful behavior, but instead faced discrimination based on her religion.

She is now seeking unspecified damages, arguing that the hospital’s actions were discriminatory. NYU Langone has declined to comment on the lawsuit.