Life story, Israel trips tie Sotomayor to Jews

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Jewish groups don't endorse U.S. Supreme Court nominees, at least in writing.

The tears and choked sobs when Sonia Sotomayor accepted President Obama's nomination on Tuesday told another story.

Packed into the room along with Sotomayor's family, friends and colleagues were representatives of Jewish groups that have consulted with the White House about prospective replacements for David Souter.

The story of her life -- the daughter of a Puerto Rican single mother from the Bronx, N.Y., whose ambitions knew no bounds -- resounded with a community that has made the story of immigrant triumph over struggle a template of Jewish American success.

http://jta.org/news/article/2009/05/26/1005436/life-story-israel-trips-tie-sotomayor-to-jews