By Nancy B. Greer
President & CEO
The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court can reshape our society in sweeping and long-lasting ways. Of the 115 people who have served on the nation’s highest court since its establishment, several stand out for the enduring impact they have made on America.
One of those justices was Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a jurist of iconic stature whose service on the court was rooted firmly in Jewish values. The Torah command, “Justice, justice thou shalt pursue,” hung on the walls of her court chambers and was the title of her last book. As she said in a 1995 speech to the American Jewish Committee, “I am a judge born, raised, and proud of being a Jew. The demand for justice runs through the entirety of the Jewish tradition.”
The Jewish influences, life, and legacy of Justice Ginsburg will be the focus of a special online symposium to be held on Tuesday, April 5, beginning at 1 pm. The 90-minute gathering will bring together scholars, biographers, and personal acquaintances of Justice Ginsburg to speak on the Jewish influences that guided her and shaped her legacy.
Your Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and the Cardozo Society of Washington State, Federation’s affinity group for Jewish legal professionals and law students, is honored to present this exciting and informative learning opportunity, along with the Louis D. Brandeis Law Society of Philadelphia.
You can look forward to an intellectually stimulating and revealing discussion, enriched with insights about one of the greatest Jewish jurists in American history. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits will be available for Washington attorneys who attend, but the event is free, open to people of all backgrounds, and accessible to all levels of knowledge.
We will hear from four prominent speakers, including Professor Amanda Tyler from UC Berkeley Law, a former law clerk of Justice Ginsburg who co-authored her book, Justice, Justice Thou Shalt Pursue: A Life’s Work Fighting for a More Perfect Union. Professor Tyler will be joined by Professor David Schizer, Dean Emeritus at Columbia University Law School and another former law clerk of Justice Ginsburg; Professor Robert Klonoff, a veteran litigator and Dean of Lewis & Clark Law School from 2007 to 2014; and Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin of Temple Israel in West Palm Beach, Florida, a prolific author, teacher, and Jewish thought leader.
Please join us on April 5 for a timely and provocative discussion about Justice Ginsburg and about the Jewish influences that were the foundation of the powerful imprint she made on our world.
