New U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff marked the start of his Senate tenure on Monday, Dec. 9, by taking the oath of office with his hand on an ancient Jewish text.
The book used in Schiff’s swearing-in ceremony is the Mishneh Torah, written by the renowned Jewish philosopher and scholar Moses Maimonides. A comprehensive 12th-century codification of Jewish religious law, the Mishneh Torah summarizes all aspects of Jewish law in clear and accessible Hebrew.
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When sworn into office, newly elected officials often use religious texts or other meaningful books that hold personal or symbolic significance to them.
For instance, in 2021 President Joe Biden took his oath of office on a 19th-century Bible that has been in his family since the late 1800s, while Vice President Kamala Harris swore in on two Bibles: one that belonged to former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and another that belonged to a former neighbor close to Harris, according to CNN. Former President Donald Trump also used two Bibles at his 2017 swearing-in ceremony: the Lincoln Bible used by Abraham Lincoln at his first inauguration in 1861, and a family Bible given to Trump by his mother in 1955.
The Mishneh Torah used by Schiff translates into “repetition of the Torah” or “the second Torah” in English. It was printed in Italy in 1490, according to his office.
Schiff, a pro-Israel Democrat, has been open about his Jewish heritage and faith and has strongly condemned antisemitism.
“Growing up in a Jewish household with strong ties to the Jewish community, I learned to revere a passage from Micah — that instructs us to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God,” Schiff previously said, according to the Jewish Democratic Council of America’s website. “I am very proud of my Jewish heritage, our traditions and values and the work our community does to build a more just and equitable world for the next generation.”
In his swearing-in statement, Schiff said he will be a “tireless advocate for Californians in every part of the state and work across the aisle to deliver on day one.”
Schiff, who represented an LA-area district in Congress for nearly 24 years, will complete the remainder of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s term before being sworn in for a full six-year term on Jan. 3. Sen. Laphonza Butler, who Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed in October 2023 to complete Feinstein’s remaining term, resigned Sunday, Dec. 8.
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