Cantorial Soloist Marcy Morris, Reverend Gerald Kisner, Ebony Choir Soloist Flora Jackson, and Rabbi Carlie Daniels
As antisemitic and hate acts continue to rise, a sold-out crowd of nearly 200 non-Jewish and Jewish attorneys, judges, and elected officials joined together for a heart-felt and inspiring Unity Seder, honoring the traditional Jewish holiday of Passover and its unifying values of justice and freedom. Held at Temple Israel in West Palm Beach, the inspiring and educational evening was hosted by 11 diverse community voluntary bar associations. The event was emceed by event co-chair Heather Greenhill Stohlman; Scott Perry and Staci Burton Fishman served as fellow event co-chairs.
For the second year, guests participated in a traditional seder meal with a service jointly led by Temple Israel’s Rabbi Carlie Daniels and Historic Tabernacle Baptist Church Reverend Gerald D. Kisner. Temple Beth Am Cantorial Soloist Marcy Morris and Ebony Choir Soloist Flora Jackson added music and spiritual connection to the evening, which honors the Jewish holiday of Passover, the story of the ancient Hebrews’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. The evening began with opening remarks by Gary Lesser, Managing Partner of Lesser, Landy, Smith & Siegel in West Palm Beach and president of the Jewish Lawyers Association, along with lead event sponsor Alex Lewy, director of community relations for The Palm Beach Center to Combat Antisemitism & Hatred.
“In these uncertain times, both here at home and across the globe, allyship is more essential than ever — not only for the Jewish people, but for all people,” shared Stohlman, event co-chair and attorney at Greenhill Stohlman. “It was incredibly inspiring to see such strong representation across 11 Palm Beach County voluntary bar associations, embracing our differences while recognizing our shared humanity as we came together as one.”
The event, which started more than a decade ago but had been on a hiatus, was brought back in 2024 based on resounding consensus of a need for unity, particularly since the war in Israel began on Oct. 7, 2023.
The Bar Associations that partnered for this evening included F. Malcolm Cunningham Sr. Bar Association, The Greenberg Gamot Family Law American Inns of Court, Guild of Catholic Lawyers of the Diocese of Palm Beach County, Jewish Lawyers Association of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach County Bar Association, Florida Association for Women Lawyers Palm Beach County Chapter, Palm Beach County Hispanic Bar Association, Palm Beach County Sheree Davis Cunningham Black Women Lawyers Association, South Palm Beach County Bar Association, Florida Association for Women Lawyers South Palm Beach County Chapter, and the Palm Beach County Justice Association.
“What a tremendous, inspiring evening to have so many extraordinary leaders join together to celebrate our Jewish culture and history and stand as allies in our mission to continue the fight against antisemitism and all forms of hate,” shared Josephine Gon, executive director of the Palm Beach Center to Combat Antisemitism & Hatred.
