Almost Cut My Hair

Each week, we select the most interesting Jewish obituary. This week, it’s that of Judge Sidney H. Asch, who died at the beginning of the month at 92. His academic background was sufficiently unusual for a politican that at one point the Times headlined an A1 report of his ascension, “Democrats Pick Ph.D. Egghead as District Leader in the Bronx.” But soon he became a judge, and in a long career made a number of important, progressive decisions, including concerning gay rights.

And did you know for a while that women were barred from cutting men’s hair? It’s true! But that ended in New York once Asch got to that particular law. Although it is not clear which barber the guy behind Asch (and newly minted, and now legendary prosecutor Robert Morgenthau) patronized.

Sidney H. Asch, a Judge and a Scholar, Dies at 92 [NYT]