By Kate Vavra, Summer 2023 Power in Place Collaborator
Ruth Bader Ginsburg will forever be remembered as being the second woman, as well as the first Jewish woman, to be placed on the United States Supreme Court. However, decades before she was appointed by Bill Clinton, young Ginsburg lived in Brooklyn with her family where the presence of Judaism would guide her towards her future political career. Ginsburg’s father immigrated to New York from Russia, and her mother was a first generation Polish American. Ginsburg’s parents raised her Jewish, and the family was involved in the faith throughout her childhood.
Brooklyn has had a large Jewish population for generations, so Ginsburg grew up in a vibrant religious and cultural community. During Ginsbrug’s childhood years, much of the Jewish American community had a strong yearning to be good Americans and help work towards a better nation, all while holding on to their Jewish heritage. Many of them faced the daily detriment of antisemitism, but they continued to work hard to climb the ladder of society. These ideals and attitudes were undoubtedly given to Ginsburg. Her mother, who passed away before Ginsburg graduated high school, guided young Ginsburg to strive for academic excellence and to build a career for herself. This influence led the way for Ginsburg to be accepted into the prestigious Cornell University, where she continued to push herself academically and graduated as the highest ranked female in her class. From Cornell, she went on to study at Harvard Law School and Columbia Law School, each of which are one of the best law programs in the nation. This advanced education, inspired by her Jewish roots, gifted Ginsburg with the skills and expertise that allowed her to reach her dreams of becoming a Supreme Court justice and changing the country forever.
Additionally, Ginsburg has referenced the ways in which the scars of the Holocaust have influenced her views on legislation and justice. In 2004, Ginsburg spoke at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and stated “in the Capitol, the lawmaking heart of our nation, in close proximity to the Supreme Court, we remember in sorrow that Hitler’s Europe, his Holocaust kingdom, was not lawless. Indeed, it was a kingdom full of laws, laws deployed by highly educated people — teachers, lawyers, and judges — to facilitate oppression, slavery and mass murder” [1]. These words convey how Ginsburg recognizes that discrimination can and does happen within the law, so it is necessary that legal systems must be constantly challenged and upheld. She got rid of language on certificates that framed the calendar year as Christian. She successfully pushed the court to not hear cases on Yom Kippur, and the practice is still upheld today. For years, Ginsburg led the fight against the discrimination of women. She successfully argued six landmark cases throughout the 1970’s in front of the Supreme Court, before she was even an appointed justice. It is clear how much Ginsburg stood up for minorities during her time on the Court.
Ginsburg’s identity as a Jew inspired her to have empathy for unprivileged groups who do not hold power in society. She felt compelled to use her influence to protect these individuals. Ginsburg knew that the legal system needed to be modernized, and although it would prove to be long and difficult, she chose to work within the legal system, instead of outside, to create advancements. These actions reflect the popular opinions of the American Jewish population during this time period. Most American Jews believed that laws existed to protect them and other minorities, and although the laws may be flawed, the government is responsible for making changes for them to thrive.
Although in the past Ginsburg had stated how she does not see herself as devoutly religious, she always identified as a proud Jewish woman. She was clearly connected with the Jewish culture, customs, and values. Ginsburg found political inspiration within Judaism, proving how one’s upbringing has the capacity to shape the trajectory of their life.
References
[1] Brockell, Gillian. “How Jewish History and The Holocaust Fueled Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Quest For Justice” The Washington Post Sept 2019, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/09/19/rbg-ruth-bader-ginsburg-holocaust-jewish/
[2] Mineo, Liz. “The Life and Legacy of RBG” The Harvard Gazette Sept 20, 2020. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/09/harvard-community-reflects-on-the-life-achievements-of-ruth-bader-ginsburg/
[3] Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oyez, https://www.oyez.org/justices/ruth_bader_ginsburg#:~:text=In%20this%20position,%20she%20led,were%20discriminated%20against%20as%20well
[4] Shimron, Yonat. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg Was Passionate About Judaism’s Concern For Justice” The Washington Post Sept 18, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/09/18/ruth-bader-ginsburg-was-passionate-about-judaisms-concern-justice/
[5] Shimron, Yonat. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg Was Shaped By Her Minority Faith” The Washington Post Sept 19, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/ruth-bader-ginsburg-was-shaped-by-her-minority-faith/2020/09/19/45f02f3e-fa9d-11ea-85f7-5941188a98cd_story.html
Kate Vavra is a rising sophomore at Mount Holyoke College and is double majoring in International Relations and French. On campus, Kate plays varsity tennis and serves as the Community Service Subcommittee Chair on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. After graduation, Kate hopes to go to law school and become an attorney.