There has been much said and written about Justice Ginsburg since her death, but not enough, in my opinion, that she is Jewish. She died on Rosh Hashanah, a high holy day in Judaism, that begins the Jewish New Year. It is a time of repentance, asking others for forgiveness, and renewal.
There is a Jewish teaching that those who die just before the end of the Jewish year that God held them back until the last moment because they were needed so much in this world. What an appropriate moment for Justice Ginsburg to leave us. Nina Totenberg, NPR legal correspondent, tweeted just after midnight on that day, “And so it was that RBG died as the sun was setting last night marking the beginning of Rosh Hashanah.” Some were saying that she is a Tzaddik which is a legendary figure to describe a righteous one to keep the dignity of humankind alive. God, according to the legend, places these people around the world to be a witness to all that is good and right.
A shofar, a ram’s horn, that marks the beginning of the year is blown nine times to call in the year. One synagogue chose to blow the shofar with eight short loud blasts and then one soft sound indicating how speechless it left the world feeling upon her death.
Part of the Jewish ethic requires moderation in all things. Two of RBG’s quotations reflect this attribute: “When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best to tune it out. Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade.” A corollary to this thought is found in her words at a Harvard luncheon in 2015. “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that lead others to join…”
RBG had a powerful impact on our culture particularly in the empowerment of women. I think that one letter to an editor that I saw has captured her influence in a particular special real way. The letter was written by a mother who was a big fan of Justice Ginsburg. She said that “when her daughter was 4 or 5 years old that she saw her first male doctor. She asked me, ‘Boys can be doctors too?’ I replied, ‘Yes kiddo, if they work really, really hard, they too can become doctors.’ That perception of not even questioning what is achievable is just one example of the giant legacy that RBG leaves to my girls and countless others. What a champion of all things fair and decent. Such an example of morality, strength, and humanity. May we grieve today and fight tomorrow.”
Another powerful example that the most important things in life are taught and caught. Even though we have been asked to not go trick or treating this Halloween, who is not moved by all the pictures of little girls in their RBG costumes ready to take Justice Ginsberg's commitment to what is good and right to the next generation.
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