Posted by Marcelo Rodriguez on May 2nd, 2022
The Daniel F. Cracchiolo Law Library is proud to partner with the Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA) to celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month. Starting this week and throughout the entire month of May, we have set up a book display of relevant and insightful titles chosen by two JLSA members, Brendan Cotta and Sequoia Kay Hill. I had the pleasure of interviewing both students about the importance of such celebration and visible representation at the College of Law. Please do not forget to come to the library and peruse the books by our entrance. For your reference, I have also included the entire list of the books on display at the end of this post.
1. Please introduce yourselves.
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My name is Brendan Cotta, I'm a 2L and the President of the Jewish Law Student Association (JSLA). |
Hi Y’all! My name is Sequoia Kay Hill and I am currently a 1L. I am on the JLSA Board as the Programming and Outreach Coordinator. It is an honor to be part of a collaboration with the library in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month. |
2. What is Jewish American Heritage Month and why is it important to you?
Jewish American History Month (JAHM) pays tribute to the generations of Jewish Americans who helped form the fabric of American history, culture and society (from jewishamericanheritagemonth.gov). JAHM is a time to bring awareness to the contributions of Jewish Americans to our society and celebrate the rich Judaic culture.
Sequoia: To me, this month is important because I want my ancestors to be remembered, acknowledged, and celebrated. Jewish people around the world still face anti-Semitism and are oppressed. We need a time to counter the negativity and remind others of the beauty of our people.
Brendan: This month is important to me because I'm a Jewish American from a family of Jewish Americans extending back to my great grandparents. I'm excited to have the opportunity to celebrate my family and the accomplishments and contributions the Jewish American community has made to the country.
3. Why is it important to celebrate or commemorate these events in law school?
Brendan: I think that it's important for Jewish students at U of A Law to see and understand that, just by attending law school, they're part of a longstanding community and tradition of American Jews making a difference through the American legal system. American Jews have contributed to the legal framework of the United States at all levels, and I feel like the books selected for the display do a great job of highlighting and celebrating that fact.
Sequoia: It is important to commemorate these events here at the law school to remind individuals of the great contributions that Jewish Americans have made to the law. We are sometimes forgotten because we are “othered” by society in many ways. If we do not highlight Jewish lawyers and judges, it would be to ignore giants in our history.
4. Which of these books speaks to you the most and why?
Sequoia: The books that showcase Jewish American Justices make me feel represented and seen in society. The books show the growth and progression of the acceptance of Jewish Americans in the United States. In America we are still “othered” due to our religion and culture but seeing these books shows that we can overcome those obstacles set by others.
Brendan: There are a lot of incredible and important books in the collection which highlight parts of Jewish American history that I hope to learn more about. However, I think the one that speaks to me the most is Torah and Constitution : essays in American Jewish thought. I like this one in particular because comparing the fundamental texts of Judaism and the American legal system really speaks to my experience as a Jewish law student. When I started law school, I noticed similarities between Jewish culture and how we as law students were encouraged to approach the law. Both Jewish culture and the law place a lot of importance on asking questions, finding creative answers to problems, and the general pursuit of knowledge and these similarities are part of why I enjoy law school so much.
Books on Display:
1. Torah and Constitution : Essays in American Jewish Thought by Milton R. Konvitz
2. Crusaders in the Courts : How a Dedicated Band of Lawyers Fought for the Civil Rights Revolution by Jack Greenberg
3. Louis D. Brandeis : American Prophet by Jeffrey Rosen
4. Justice, Justice Thou Shalt Pursue : A Life's Work Fighting for a More Perfect Union by Ruth Bader Ginsburg
5. On Justice : An Essay in Jewish Philosophy by Leen Evan Goodman
6. Jewish Law in American Tribunals by Bernard J. Meislin
7. A Living Tree : The Roots and Growth of Jewish Law by Elliott N. Dorff and Arthur I. Rosett
8. Human Rights in Jewish Law by Haim Hermann Cohn
9. The World of Benjamin Cardozo : Personal Values and the Judicial Process by Richard Polenberg
10. Elena Kagan : from Nominee to Supreme Court Justice by Samuel B. Earnst
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