Judge Ruchie Freier became one of the first Hasidic female lawyers in Brooklyn, and eleven years later was elected as a judge to civil court, making her the first female Hasidic elected official in the U.S. She balances high-profile professional life with family, all the while not compromising tradition, culture, and Jewish law. Her dignified persona and professional conduct are a further reflection of the person she became as she pursued her career, not compromising, but rather elevating herself, by way of her position.

In pioneering the first all-women’s  Volunteer Ambulance Service (VAS), Ezras Nashim, Ruchie integrated the lessons of her youth and Touro schooling, choosing to uniquely impact and service her community. She doesn’t break norms; she gracefully creates new norms that fit well within her cherished tradition.

“I wanted to succeed, but I wanted to do it from within my community.”

Along with her official duties, she serves as an unofficial liaison between Hasidic Jews and the secular world, explaining the realities of the courts to the Hasidim and the culture of the Hasidim to the courts.

Touro is celebrating its trailblazing alumni in honor of the University’s 50th anniversary. To learn more visit 50.touro.edu