As many of us were busy preparing for Rosh Hashanah, Malia Reichmann of Edison was busy making a place for herself in New Jersey history.
Reichmann, a member of the Jewish community of Edison and a congregant at Congregation Ohr Torah, was sworn in on September 30 as the new municipal court judge in Edison. At age 32, this makes her the youngest Jewish judge appointed in New Jersey.
She has deep roots in the area. She is a graduate of the Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva (RPRY) in Edison, attended the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University, and was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar at Columbia Law School. She currently works as general counsel at Weiss Properties in New Brunswick, her family’s real estate firm.
Reichmann is married to Andrew Reichmann, who owns The Reichmann Group real estate firm, based in New Brunswick. Malia and Andrew have two young sons. She serves as a member of the Capital Campaign Committee at RPPY.
At her swearing-in ceremony at the Edison Municipal Court, Reichmann demonstrated her strong sense of family and community by publicly thanking her grandparents Roz and Norton Nesis, her in-laws Chani and Efraim Reichmann, her parents Robert and Miriam Weiss, her brothers Mordechai and Shaje, her aunt Ruchie and Uncle Yossi Stern, her work colleagues, and the leaders of the local rabbinic community—Rabbi Yaakov Luban, Rabbi Sariel Malitsky—and RPRY Head of School Rabbi Michael Ribalt, who were in attendance.
Reichmann shared in her remarks that she has always aspired to be a judge, as she sees the role as a unique opportunity to blend her dedication to the law with her commitment to serving the community.
Prior to the ceremony, she stated in a press release: “I will be sitting on the bench with the strong moral code my religion has guided me, with my hair covered, and an upbringing rooted in empathy and kindness. This is my opportunity to make a strong Kiddush Hashem and inspire young Jewish girls discovering their purpose and path.”
Before Reichmann was sworn in, Edison Mayor Sam Joshi, Chief Municipal Court Judge for Edison Dipti Vaid Dedhia; and Superior Court Judge for Middlesex County Mark Epstein all spoke and praised Reichmann on her appointment. Epstein offered two measures of advice to the new judge: “Wear your robes light,” and “make your mistakes slowly.” He then administered the oath of office to Reichmann.
Reichmann told The Jewish Link that she will start in her new role in December, after attending “Judge School” in Trenton. She will serve on the bench on Tuesday mornings and evenings and will serve as the conduit with Edison police on emergent domestic disputes.
After the swearing-in ceremony, the Weiss family held a buffet dinner for family, friends and business contacts in Reichmann’s honor at The Bridge Turkish and Mediterranean Grill Restaurant in Highland Park, which attracted over 100 attendees. Highland Park Mayor Elsie Foster spoke at the dinner and wished Reichman the wisdom of Solomon in her new role and the fortitude to always follow her faith.
Harry Glazer is the Middlesex County Editor of The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected] and he welcomes reader feedback. He is grateful to Mark Weiss for all his assistance with this story.
