We grieve the loss and honor the legacy of the brilliant, resilient and courageous Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who fought fiercely for dignity, fairness and opportunity. As only the second woman to join the nation’s highest court, she long championed many of the rights we cherish and was a committed champion of full gender and LGBTQ equality.
Her inspiring words loom large today. She avowed, “We should not be held back from pursuing our full talents, from contributing what we could contribute to the society, because we fit into a certain mold ― because we belong to a group that historically has been the object of discrimination.”
I heard the news of her passing as I celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, with my family. Those who pass away on this holiday are regarded as tzadik, a title bestowed to the righteous.
As we mourn Justice Ginsburg, let us also celebrate her legacy, and reflect on her life’s achievements, ones that will continue to guide our efforts as we continue our work towards social justice, inclusivity, respect and equity. She will always be a hero in our hearts.
- Sharen I. Duke, Executive Director/CEO