Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the 2nd woman appointed to the Supreme Court, passed away on Friday, September 18 at the age of 87. The Supreme Court reported the cause of her passing as complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer. 

Ginsburg was a feminist icon that not only changed laws but also transformed the standardized roles of men and women in society. In 1971, before her time serving on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg wrote a brief for Sally Reed in the case of Reed vs Reed, which declared that discrimination on the basis of sex violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. 

During her time on the Supreme Court, Ginsburg’s core argument was that “equal protection” covered all discrimination based on sex. Ginsburg asked the court to examine how inequalities affected men, a move that was not only strategic, but also a step towards diminishing “traditional” societal norms. 

“I think her greatest impact was in fighting for the civil rights of all Americans- women, men, members of the LGBT community, those who are being denied the right to vote, women pushing for reproductive freedom…” said GA History teacher Judy Krouse. “To me, she was more than just a Supreme Court justice. She was a symbol of intelligence, perseverance, and fairness… She became an icon for women like me, but also for younger women and girls. She proved that it was possible to rise to the level of being on the highest court of the land and to make an enormous impact on the judicial system in our country.” 

Ms. Krouse considers the quote “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you” the essence of Ginsburg’s legacy. By fighting for her passions, Ginsburg proved that anyone can have a powerful voice. 

While frequently overlooked, Ginsburg’s Jewish heritage deeply shaped her life as a justice. Although not religious, she found value and wisdom in Jewish tradition, a sentiment exemplified through the Sandy Koufax movement. Koufax, a pitcher for the LA Dodgers, decided not to pitch Game One of the World Series because it fell on the day of Yom Kippur. To recognize this movement, Ginsburg decided that she, too, would not sit with the court on the holy day. Since then, the Court has not sat on Yom Kippur. 

According to Jewish tradition, those who pass away just before Rosh Hashana are known as a tzaddika, a Hebrew word for a virtuous and just person. Thus, Ginsburg’s passing on the eve of Rosh Hashana displayed the loss of a true tzaddika. Ginsburg was a woman committed to righteousness, understanding, and respect. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s vision of justice stems from both Jewish and American heritage and the legacy of her passion will be continued for many generations to come.

Sources:

https://forward.com/scribe/454948/ruth-bader-ginsburgs-jewish-legacy/

https://www.jpost.com/judaism/did-dying-on-rosh-hashanah-make-ruth-bader-ginsburg-a-tzaddik-643110

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/september-18-2020?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo2MzYyNzgzLCJwb3N0X2lkIjoyNjk1MTc3LCJfIjoiNkFHUk0iLCJpYXQiOjE2MDA4OTA4ODcsImV4cCI6MTYwMDg5NDQ4NywiaXNzIjoicHViLTIwNTMzIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.vZE43Y-gMH9JuQk_Nj6PQughnDAur4OUKwEqGCtCxr0

Image: https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/elm100114reaginsberg-001-ruthbaderginsburg-1600694980.jpg?crop=0.827xw:0.315xh;0.0817xw,0.101xh&resize=1200:*