A Rosh Hashana Like No Other: The RBG Connection

Dear Colleagues, 

Just a few days ago we were all so hopeful that 5781, our Jewish New Year, will bring a better and healthier time for humanity - and we all hope it still does. 

But now hope has been overshadowed as so many people worldwide and especially those of us at the JBLS 9th JD personally deeply mourn the passing of our Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the eve of Rosh Hashana. Our RBG indeed! A proud New Yorker of the Jewish faith, a woman lawyer, an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court for 27 years and so much more. Despite her petite stature she was a giant amongst us, always a relentless fighter for women's rights and equal rights under the law. Early in her career she stated that she had three strikes against her - being a Jew, a woman and a mother. Despite those and other limitations she rose to the very top breaking a glass ceiling time and again while making progress toward her lifelong dream — gender equality and equal justice under the law. Jewish tradition teaches that one who dies on Rosh Hashanah is a "tzedik," a person of righteousness. No truer words could be uttered about Justice Ginsburg. 

She carried her Jewish heritage and faith with pride into her United States Supreme Court Chambers - a silver mezuzah hung outside her Chambers door and adorned on three walls within her Chambers were artists renderings of the Deuteronomy passage of "Tzedik tzedik tirdof' - Justice, justice you shall pursue. Her life reflected that passage. 
Her body lies "in repose" outside the United States Supreme Court for two days and then she lies in State at the United States Capitol which is the first time a woman or Jew has ever been lying in State in the United States Capitol. That fact, 100 years following a woman's right to vote in the United States alone is a striking example of not only how far she climbed in fighting for women's rights but as significantly how much remains to be done to reach the goal of women's equality, the battle RBG fought so hard to achieve. 
 

The RBG CONNECTION 

It is our immediate intention at the JBLS 9th JD in lasting memory of our beloved RBG to create a chapter of our Association "The RBG Connection" consisting of devoted members who shall study the opinions, dissents and literature by and about Justice Ginsburg. We envision the group to meet regularly and, inter alia, recommend appropriate pursuit by our Board to further the legacy and goals of RBG which hopefully will soon be obtained. 

Our membership form shall be revised to reflect the existence of the RBG Connection if you wish to join the chapter. 

May Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg rest in peace and be of blessed memory. 

Shana Tova and may we never forget and continue the righteous life and work of RBG 
JBLS 9th JD Executive Committee
Justice Jeffrey A. Cohen
President