National Council of Jewish Women Mourn Justice Ginsburg, Commit to Fighting for Her Dying Wish
For Immediate Release
September 20, 2020
Media Contact:
Sarah Garfinkel, West End Strategy Team
sgarfinkel@westendstrategy.com; 202-765-4290
WASHINGTON — The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), which represents 180,000 grassroots advocates from across the country, today called on the US Senate to respect the dying wish of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and refrain from filling her seat on the US Supreme Court until after the next president is inaugurated.
NCJW CEO Sheila Katz released the following statement:
“We mourn with the family of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and we mourn with America. Few people have so irrevocably altered the lives of so many. Ideas that once seemed so radical today are common sense because of her efforts — chief among them equal protection of the law and what that means for the most vulnerable among us, including women, children, and families.
“The National Council of Jewish Women will take up Justice Ginsburg’s charge and do everything in our power to respect her dying wish that her seat on the court not be filled until after Inauguration Day.
“As a Jewish woman, Justice Ginsburg was driven by the ideal of ‘Tzedek, tzedek, tirdof’ — ‘Justice, justice, you shall pursue’ — and it is on all of us to pursue justice in her stead, to show gratitude for the work she has done, share in our sadness for her enormous loss, and together commit to fighting for her legacy.
“Today, NCJW is launching ‘Ruth’s Revolution’ on our new site CourtsMatter.org to continue our 30 year fight to ensure a fair, independent, and qualified judiciary. The website educates advocates about the qualifications and background experience of current federal judicial nominees and provides a way to take action to participate in the judicial nomination process and keep Justice Ginsburg’s legacy alive. Throughout the Supreme Court nominations process, NCJW will track and vet nominees and give people ways to take action.
“With the 2020 presidential election already well underway in the form of early voting and mail-in ballots, the Senate must wait to confirm any nominee put forward until after the election results are certified, and the will of the people can be heard. We call on senators from both parties to respect Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish and follow her powerful example.”
The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. More information on Facebook and on Twitter at @NCJW.