Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Icon of Dissent

May her memory be a revolution.

When I heard the news of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing, I was devastated. It felt as if the last thread of hope in the fabric of this tumultuous year had finally broken. I began to wonder if this superhero of gender equality advocacy had ever felt hopeless. She was, after all, a human being, despite the superhuman tenacity and dedication she displayed for her work until the day she died at the age of 87. 

Surely she must have had moments of doubt during her long life. In 1956 she was one of nine women accepted into Harvard Law and was asked by the dean what reason she had to be taking a spot that could have been offered to a man. When she and her husband Marty were both attending law school and raising a family, he was diagnosed with cancer, and Ruth singlehandedly supported her family, ensuring that both she and Marty graduated with their law degrees. Ruth tied for first in her class at Columbia University, yet she still faced difficulty securing employment because of gender discrimination. 

When she began teaching law at Rutgers University, she was one of only a few women in the United States who taught law, and earned significantly less money for her work than the men she worked with. Nevertheless, she persisted, and was able to carve out a path for herself and others. After co-founding the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Ruth Bader Ginsburg managed to win five out of the six cases she argued in front of the Supreme Court. 

With years of advocacy and hard work under her belt, in 1993 she was nominated and confirmed to serve as a justice in that very court, and became the first Jewish woman to serve as Supreme Court Justice. After her nomination to the Supreme Court, RBG received a fax from one of her former classmates apologizing for perpetuating her law school nickname, “Bitch.” Ruth reportedly read the fax and exclaimed “Better bitch than mouse!” Justice Ginsburg truly embodied this sentiment. She became known for her elegant and passionate dissent and tireless advocacy for gender equality while serving on the Supreme Court. 

In the face of so many obstacles including discrimination, the death of her partner, and her own battle with cancer, I’m sure RBG had moments of hopelessness or doubt. Yet, what made her legacy so powerful is that she faced those moments with extreme bravery and confidence. She passed away peacefully on Friday, September 18, 2020, surrounded by her family. Many people in the Jewish community noted that her passing on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year was symbolic of her righteousness, and a chance for others to reflect on the injustices she fought in preparation for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. 

Before she passed, she left a message with her granddaughter: "My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed." Justice Ginsburg was dedicated to the constitution and the fight for equality within the law until she drew her very last breath. She has fought tirelessly her entire life for this cause, and now is her time to rest. It’s the job of the living to carry on the torch of progress in her name.

Rest in Power, Notorious RBG.