Federal judge | Celebration of boys and girls

As Jeff Goldberg wrote in The Atlantic this week, Judge Kimba Wood granted a lawyer's unusual  request in a manner that was charming and progressive. She was persuaded by a letter from a lawyer litigating a trial in her courtroom that was very unique and tongue-in-cheek, heart-on-sleeve. Bennett Epstein's daughter is expecting her first child on December 3--in the middle of trial. Mr. Epstein wrote the judge requesting that the court adjourn a trial for one day in the event that his daughter gives birth to a son, which would compel under Jewish law, a bris during daylight on the 8th day after birth. Bris, is defined in Mr. Epstein's 6th footnote, "Hebrew for 'convenant,' for 'the Convenant of Abraham,' i.e., ritual circumcision, joyous to everyone, apparently, except the baby."

To her credit, Judge Wood granted permission for Mr. Epstein to attend the bris, with the caveat that "[i]f a daughter is born, there will be a public celebration in Court, with readings celebrating girls and women."

You may read Mr. Epstein's unusual request and Judge Wood's hand-written Order here. Goldberg, Jeffrey. Judge Kimba Wood, Standing up for Women. The Atlantic, (November 19, 2010)

Comments

[Jeanne M. Hannah]

Laurel let me know that "Hoo hah!" . . . It's a boy! Thus, attorney Epstein got an adjournment of trial so that he could attend the bris. http://tinyurl.com/28gt4ny

[Laurel Stuart-Fink]

Jeanne, thank you for sharing. It is my hope that the Zeide (Yiddish for grandfather of the newborn) took the time to explain to the court that, in accordance with Torah (the Jewish Bible) women are considered to be born already circumcised in our hearts, by our very spiritual natures born into the covenant with G-d and therefore not requiring a special ritual. Further, a baby boy is named at the bris, whereas the baby girl is named at the first Torah reading after her birth, whether it is Monday, Thursday or Saturday (the days Torah is read in the synagogue). If Zeide wants to attend her baby-naming, he might need time off from trial for a little girl baby, too, in other words.

Laurel Stuart-Fink