Even though Judge Ginsberg served on the highest court in the USA, her values and decisions were formed by her Jewish experiences- not exclusively but in large part. Long before she was a lawyer or a judge, she was a Jew. For RBG, her Jewishness was not demonstrated by being religious, rather her values and what she lived by was shaped by Jewish values of justice.
On walls of my chambers, I have posted in two places the command from Deuteronomy -- "Zedek, Zedek," "Justice, Justice shalt thou pursue." Those words are an ever present reminder of what judges must do "that they may thrive." There is an age old connection between social justice and Jewish tradition. Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg, whose tenure on the Court, 1962-1965, was far too brief, once said: "My concern for justice, for peace, for enlightenment, . . . stems from my heritage." Justice Breyer and I are fortunate to be linked to that heritage. I am a judge, born, raised and proud of being a Jew. The demand for justice runs through the entirety of Jewish history and Jewish tradition. I hope that in all the years I have the good fortune to continue serving on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States I will have the strength and courage to remain steadfast in the service of that demand. -Feb. 18, 2002.
So.... how does Torah shape you as Brawerman 6th grader?
In a few weeks we hold Torah high and start all over again. You've watched this ceremony take place each year and now it is your turn to take your place as the oldest in the school who hold the Torah high in front of the younger generation.s
We actually have the opportunity for you to communicate what Torah means to you and what part of torah you embrace and which shapes you. Is torah (with a little "t" which implies all of Jewish teachings and holidays) about the values it teaches us such as be grateful, be generous, love your neighbor, be happy and joyous. Is Torah about the stories not for their facts but the truths we learn from our ancestors? You will ultimately make a video presentation which will be shared with the Brawerman community on Simchat Torah. In this special year, your real voice and your genuine journey have a chance to shine through. To get you close to a meaningful speech please answer the following.
When I think of what Torah means I think about..... (a memory, a quote, a verse, one year when the Brawerman theme was awesome for you).
If I had to summarize the whole teaching and lesson of Torah or our Jewish values in general in a very long sentence or a favorite verse it would be: