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Each year, members of the Hadassah Attorneys and Judges Council have the opportunity to be admitted into the Supreme Court Bar as part of the council’s Swearing In Program. The verdict: “The swearing-in experience was in fact lifechanging,” said New Yorker Nancy Krosser, who participated this year, along with seven other Hadassah members and one Associate.
The program grants Hadassah attorneys the high honor of being sworn in before all nine justices, an experience Krosser described as thrilling.
Geri Kahn, who currently co-chairs the program and the Council with Lynn Altshuler, agreed. “I was used to thinking of the Supreme Court justices as gods,” she said, recalling her own past swearing-in experience. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg spoke to our group the year I was sworn in. I couldn't say a word. I couldn't even believe I was in the same room as her. Few of us get to see our heroes in person. I am very lucky and very grateful to Hadassah for giving me that experience.”
For Reisa Brafman, a participant this year from New York, being sworn in with Hadassah was deeply personal and emotional, as the day coincided with the birthday of her longtime best friend Pamela — the very friend who gifted her with a Hadassah life membership — who passed away a few years ago.
“I think she knew that as a Jewish woman with similar values and a passion for social justice, I would appreciate all that Hadassah has to offer,” said Brafman.
She added that the experience “really left an impression on my heart. I felt that, especially at this time, when there’s so much antisemitism, standing in solidarity with a group of like-minded people, with Jewish attorneys, and being sworn in offered a sense of safety, sisterhood and brotherhood.”
On the memorable day, this year’s participants started off with breakfast in the historic conference room at the Supreme Court, followed by the swearing-in ceremony, during which Altshuler made the motion to admit them to the Supreme Court Bar. Next, the attorneys had the privilege of watching two Supreme Court arguments.
“To be invited in and be a part of history — to stand inside the courtroom of the United States Supreme Court, to hear oral arguments and to witness the spirited academic debate and to feel the grandeur and majestic nature of it all — was truly overwhelming,” said Krosser.
The group heard from Supreme Court personnel, including Supreme Court Clerk Scott Harris, before touring the Supreme Court Library, which they are now entitled to use as members of the Supreme Court Bar.
“I loved the special library tour, the stories shared by the researchers and the time spent with the chief clerk,” Krosser said.
Krosser is active in Hadassah’s Yashar Group of Nassau County, New York, the only group comprised exclusively of judges and attorneys — the very same group her mother helped found. “My mom’s joy and excitement to support Hadassah through a legal channel were overwhelmingly apparent. It was the perfect marriage of philanthropy, which she learned by example through her mother (my grandmother) and her intellectual ambition.”
At the time, she said, “I had not yet started law school, but my fate to be involved was sealed; the meetings were routinely held in my home, and I couldn’t help but be curious about what this group of strong, passionate and accomplished women was all about.”
“I love that the participants bond over an awe-inspiring experience with other Hadassah members,” said Altshuler. “They come away from the program glowing about it and Hadassah.”
“I described it as among my top five days of all time,” said Krosser.
Learn more about the Hadassah Attorneys and Judges Council.
