Last week, on the night that former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, my mom and I were celebrating Rosh Hashanah with our annual serving of apples and honey: the apples to signify healing and the honey to represent our hope for a sweet year.
Just after my mom and I had finished cleaning up, I sat on the couch and read the news regarding RBG’s death. Evidently, the honey we had that night did not seem to be an accurate representation of the “sweet” year to come.
The first time I heard of RBG was in fifth grade. I had just finished a short Buzzfeed-esque quiz that was supposed to help me choose my future career. I proudly flashed my results to nearby classmates; apparently, I was going to be a lawyer.
Naturally, I proceeded to google “famous lawyers.” After scrolling for what felt like ages, I clicked on the first woman that I saw. I spent the next ten minutes reading about RBG’s childhood and career. Immediately, I was moved by her story, and she inspired me to declare my future career as a lawyer to anyone who would listen.
My fifth grade career quiz result wasn’t completely off-target. As a young woman interested in law and politics, I look up to RBG as my role model. I passionately read her renowned dissents and watch hours of her interviews, trying to emulate her fearlessness, tenacity, and drive in everything I do. RBG’s ability to command a room, unrelenting devotion to her fight for civil rights through legal action, and perseverance through the countless obstacles she faced as a lawyer and Supreme Court justice truly amaze me.
Admittedly, the time following RBG’s death has felt scary and uncertain. However, similar to the honey I ate with my mom to commemorate the start of the Jewish New Year, RBG’s enduring contributions might signify hope. I believe that people who feel unwelcome in places “where decisions are made” will look to RBG as an example. As these people follow her lead into “the room where it happens,” they might feel motivated to alter our society in ways that are long overdue.
I will never be able to fully express how thankful I am for RBG’s work and how she has inspired me to continue pursuing my passions. But here’s an attempt: Thank you, RBG, for showing young women that we belong in positions of power, and for fighting for our rights and for our country. Your work will never be forgotten or underappreciated.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2013. Photo courtesy of The New York Times
