The National Council of Jewish Women elected a Miami lawyer as its president. Nancy Ratzan was elected last week at the NCJW convention in Chicago. “We deliver the voice and action of progressive Jewish women,” Ratzan said in her inaugural speech as president. “We address the issues that change lives and empower women: reproductive choice, religious freedom, violence against women, safety nets for children and contraceptive access.” Ratzan, who has practiced First Amendment law, has been the NCJW vice president since 2002 and has chaired its judicial nominations campaign.
NCJW has been out front in the Jewish community in opposing judicial nominees who have favored rolling back abortion rights. Other Jewish groups generally abjure opposing or endorsing judicial nominees. Ratzan, who was elected to a three-year term, succeeds Phyllis Snyder.
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