Walk of Fame | Annabelle Kolomeisky
On September 18th, 2020, on Rosh Hashanah eve, the world lost one of America’s brightest voices of the feminist movement with the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Known by many by just her initials, RBG, was recognized for her many accomplishments throughout her celebrated legal career, but it was her strong advocacy for women’s rights and gender equality, as well as her fighting personality that gave her the nickname, Notorious RBG.
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| Ruth Bader Ginsburg waving to a crowd | Source |
Born on March 15th, 1933, Joan Ruth Bader Ginsburg was raised in Brooklyn, New York by a middle-class Jewish family. Ginsburg broke many boundaries as a woman in law by becoming the first woman to be hired with tenure by the Columbia University School of Law, as well as co-creating the Women’s Rights Project with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), all while dealing with many medical issues both personally and within her family.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was best known for the role she played in the Supreme Court as an Associate Justice. Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court under President Bill Clinton in 1993 and remained a jurist until her passing in September 2020. Throughout her time in the Supreme Court, RBG played a key role in passing many landmark rulings such as United States v. Virginia, which allowed women to enter the Virginia Military Institute, as well as Ledbetter v Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co, a case addressing gender discrimination which is a cause that Ginsburg has been fighting for her whole professional career. Her commitment towards gender equality and civil rights earned her the American Bar Association’s Thurgood Marshall Award in 1999.
In addition to being the 2nd woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States of America, Ruth Bader Ginsburg made history by becoming the first Jewish woman to enter the Supreme Court. Ginsburg was very proud of her Jewish heritage and often referred to her Jewish background when discussing her experience in academia and law. Studying law during the 1950’s, Ginsburg faced a lot of discrimination not only because she was a woman in a very male dominated field, but also as a Jew.
In her pursuit for justice, Ginsburg often referred to Jewish values and her roots for inspiration. This can be most clearly seen in her former office where the phrase from the Book of Deuteronomy was seen on the wall saying “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” As a person who was raised in the United States of America during the Holocaust, Ginsburg faced many issues of discrimination and intolerance. Ginsburg herself told people that her
In her pursuit for justice, Ginsburg often referred to Jewish values and her roots for inspiration. This can be most clearly seen in her former office where the phrase from the Book of Deuteronomy was seen on the wall saying “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” As a person who was raised in the United States of America during the Holocaust, Ginsburg faced many issues of discrimination and intolerance. Ginsburg herself told people that her
experiences helped her empathize with other minority groups. Ruth Bader Ginsburg had an incredible understanding of the Jewish values as she continued to apply the teachings in her work to help as many people as she could.
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| Book titled Notorious RBG about Ruther Bader Ginsburg's life | Source |
Inspired by the book by the same name, the exhibition, Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, discusses just that; the story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s life and her accomplishments in an interactive and fun way. This travelling exhibition looks at the historical cases in which Ginsburg played a key role and her important legal achievements, while also exploring the unique position she holds in pop culture as the Notorious RBG. Shown through archival video and photos along with artifacts, the exhibit displays not only Ginsburg’s astonishing and eventful life, but also the impact her work and ideas have had on society. The exhibition is currently showing in the United States, but the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Centre is hosting virtual tours that allow visitors to explore the exhibit from anywhere around the world.
Regardless of her role as a Justice on the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been a role model for many girls from all around the world, as an example of a woman that can make a difference. Despite her remarkably average childhood, from a very average family, Ginsburg managed to make an extraordinary difference simply by using her voice to help society grow. To learn more about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, feel free to explore the articles written about her in the New York Times.
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