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Bernstein cycles in tandem with
his friend, an IDF pilot (identity
obscured), during a New York
City Triathalon.

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continued from page42

“Allowing people with disabilities
to serve on the judiciary … creates
opportunities all across the map
because it changes ideology and has a
profound effect. That’s what’s exciting.”

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44

October 4 • 2018

jn

Justice Bernstein will address the
Jewish Bar Association of Michigan at
6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15, at the Skyline
Club in Southfield. $45; $30 for JBAM
members; $22.50 for law students.
Kosher dinner available. For information,
email jschwartz@jaffelaw.com.

PASSION AND ENDURANCE
But how does he find time to travel the
world and also fulfill his heavy duties
on the Michigan Supreme Court?
“Australia is 14 time zones ahead,” he
said. “I would wake up there at 5 a.m.
and run on the hotel treadmill. Then
I would do the morning TV shows.
It’s through the press you’re able to
passionate spirit, that spirit can drive
convince countries to do things in a
the body,” he said. “When you do an
different way. Then the radio, then the
Ironman competition or 21 marathons,
newspapers. After that, you
at the end of the day, it’s not
meet with parliament and
about what your body can do;
do your speeches. Then you
it comes down to what your
speak at a dinner.
spirit can do. Your spirit has
“Then back to the hotel at
a certain resilience that, if
10 p.m., which is like 8 a.m.
given the chance, can over-
back in Lansing,” Bernstein
come the limitations of the
said. An aide reads him cases Justice Bernstein
body.”
— he frequently has to mem-
Bernstein’s hospitalization
orize the facts and law of 26 appellate
made him realize the importance of
applicants weekly.
small victories: being able to stand, to
“I work all through the night. If I
walk to the nurses’ station, to go out to
get three hours sleep, I’m doing OK.
dinner with friends.
Go to sleep at 2 and get up at 5. What
“When you look at the essence and
I found was I can handle anything for
core of what life is, it is never about big
one week. Then I sleep on the plane
things,” Bernstein said. “The core of life
going home.
is about small things. Small things give
“I have a real passion,” he said. “I’ve
life its essence and meaning — every
been given so many blessings I feel
small victory should be celebrated.
every day has to account for some-
There is nothing you can do or expe-
thing. I always look back at the week
rience that doesn’t merit some sort of
and see what happened to make it
celebration or joy.
unique or exciting. If you want to think
“The key to life is having the power
about what gift we’re given by the
to adapt,” Bernstein said. “Power
Creator, it’s moments in time.”
comes not always in trying to make
Bernstein credits his high-endurance a full recovery because I have to live
athletics with giving him the mental
with a lot of pain from my accident. If
toughness to accomplish so much.
you can adapt, you will find a power to
“Though the body might be weak or
thrive, to move forward and to live. We
the body might struggle, if you have a
try to adapt and make the best of it.” ■