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Political views aside, I was an unabashed fan of Ruth Bader Ginsburg – her background story is very similar to that of my grandparents. She taught at Rutgers University, my alma mater, and didn't take no for an answer when an obstacle was placed in her way.

As an ACLU attorney, she litigated some cases that match the libertarian portion of my worldview, continuing this advocacy on the Supreme Court as an opponent of unnecessary and overintrusive search and seizure.

She took the novel and smart approach of showing how sex discrimination is as harmful to men as it is to women.

She fought cancer for over 20 years – most of her Supreme Court career – and didn’t let it get in the way of her work. She earned the moniker “Notorious RBG” through her determination in the face of adversity as well as for her unapologetic advocacy for what she believed in.

In Judaism, we believe those who die on the final day of the year are tzadik – a righteous person – who passes away on that day because she is needed the entire year.

For me, Justice Ginsburg was the most loyal of the loyal opposition. It’s OK to disagree on political issues. My prayers and condolences are with the Bader and Ginsburg families tonight, along with the many people who loved her.