Mazel Tov to Judge Ben Novicoff

If you were to look at a list of Jewish core values you would see the word TZEDEK prominently written on it.  Tzedek which is often translated to mean justice, also means righteousness.  The Torah teaches us about Tzedek in various ways.  After the story of Noah, we read that G-d provides the people with 7 laws by which society should abide.  The 7^th law states that courts of justice must be established to enforce a just social order in the world.  Later when we are introduced to Avraham Avinu in the book of Genesis, we witness his encounter with G-d about the scheduled destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. After G-d reveals his plan to Avraham, Avraham responds by asking, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do justly?”  Justice is at the heart of the Jewish relationship with G-d.  The prophet Micah taught that human beings must do what G-d demands of us by seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with G-d.

I believe that it is no accident that we’re gathered here this morning to pay tribute to you, Ben, for your work as a judge sitting on the Worker’s Compensation Court.  You devoted 40 years to helping those whose health or livelihood were threatened by an injury at work.  You took a “strong role in making changes for Nebraskans by crafting language that the legislature passed that lowered litigation costs, provided higher benefits for injured employees, and saved money for employers.” Your knowledge of the law coupled with your sense of empathy for injured workers led your fellow members of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation to award you their Public Service Award, this past March.

I recently read a quote by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel that I believe also defines you, Ben.  It goes like this:  “A religious man is a person who holds G-d and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, and whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.”  Ben I know that you have devoted yourself to a 59 year loving relationship with your companion, Aloha, standing by her in health and in sickness, advocating for her well-being at this challenging time in life.  I know that you have been honored in the past for your generous support of the University of Nebraska’s Harris Center for Judaic Studies by having a library named after you.  I also know that a study room in the UNL College of Law bears your name.  Yet, those facts do not change my opinion that one of your greatest attributes is that you are truly a humble individual. You are soft spoken and kind, ethical and caring.  You do what you believe is right, not for accolades, nor for awards, rather because you are conscious of what it means to pursue justice and righteousness in all phases of your life.  When I told you we wanted to honor you today, you mentioned that you felt odd about it.  I hope you know that today’s recognition is our attempt to let you know how thankful we are that you are in our midst.  You have taught us what it means to pursue justice in the courtroom and to do what is right and good outside of the courtroom as well.

Mazel Tov on your past award and may you always know that you count!