DECEMBER 31 • 2020 | 9 letters Dr. Peven and Fertility Fraud Oh my. The implications are astronomical (Dec. 24, cover story). Brother/ sisters married. Children affected. All need to have their DNA checked. Scary! - Flora Miskin Castleman Facebook comment Drive-Up Mourning Our recent story on Ira Kaufman Chapel introducing drive-up greeting lines for funerals (Dec. 10, pg. 25) generated online discussion. Why are they doing this before the funeral service begins rather than after? According to Jewish law one should not attempt to comfort a mourner until after their loved one has been buried. “Receiving lines” before a funeral are quite at odds with this principle. - Nancy Federman Kaplan Facebook comment I didn’t realize that visiting prior to the burial wasn’t the “norm” as I’ve never been to a funeral outside MI. I also learned a few years ago about the mitzvah of putting a shovel of dirt on the casket. I have found that until someone actually loses someone close, there is a lack of knowledge about traditional practices when someone dies. It’s almost guest column The RBG platter R uth Bader Ginsburg, the longest-serving Jewish associate jus- tice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in September 2020, is fondly remembered for her ground- breaking majority opinions, advocacy for gender equali- ty and women’s rights, gen- der discrimination cases, and for her passionate dissents in numerous disputes. She is revered by many for making significant legal advances for women, includ- ing winning five gender discrimination cases before the Supreme Court between 1973 and 1976, and for encouraging women to speak up about their experiences with sexual harassment. RBG had a collection of lace neckbands (jabots), or collars, from around the world. She often wore a jabot when issuing her dissents (black with gold embroidery and faceted stones) as well as another she wore when issuing majority opinions (crocheted yellow and cream with crystals), which was a gift from her law clerks. Her favorite jabot (woven with white beads) was from Cape Town, South Africa. When RBG died in September, I thought of my friend, Rebecca Leitman Veidlinger, who I knew would be affected tremen- dously by her passing. Rebecca, a Bloomfield Hills- bred, Ann Arbor-based lawyer, whose work focuses on sex discrimination in education, told me of her deep admiration for RBG. “While taking a feminist jurisprudence class in grad- uate school I learned about RBG’ s advocacy and really appreciated her way of doing things. She had an incre- mental, super-logical way of addressing how sexism harms women, and men,” she said. Rebecca has a huge respect for RBG’s personal accom- plishments, particularly how she excelled in law school while juggling additional roles as mother and support- ive wife. Rebecca confided that she found many answers in feminist theory to prob- lematic issues that she herself experienced and observed. Josh Nathanson, co-owner of Gallery and Goods, an antique store in Pine Plains, N.Y., designed a large, dark ceramic platter, the color simulating the Supreme Court robe RBG wore, which also features a replica of her ivory-colored jabot, creating a striking and memorable dedication to the famed jurist. The auctioned proceeds of this unique hand-made piece of pottery was donated to Willow Roots, a charitable organization in Upstate New York, dedicated to eliminat- ing hunger, putting food on the tables for those strug- gling through the current pandemic and beyond, elimi- nating waste, and advocating for healthy living. Rebecca, through a series of unique coincidences, acquired the RBG platter on Thanksgiving. “I’m so grateful that I am able to celebrate the life, memory and triumphs of RBG by displaying this won- derful piece in my family room,” Rebecca said. Now she, her family, and friends, can celebrate with other RBG fans in her home as she dedicates her career to important social causes. The Veidlinger family: Jeff, who directs the Frankel Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan; Rebecca; and their two daughters, Naomi and Mae. DAVID NATHANSON S. DAVID NATHANSON, M.D. continued on page 10