Shutts & Bowen LLP and the Catholic Jewish Alliance (CJA) co-sponsored an educational program for Catholic educators from the Archdiocese of Miami from June 17-20. The seminar, organized in conjunction with the Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights and Florida International University’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, was entitled “We Remember: Exploring the Holocaust and Antisemitism for Catholic School Educators.” Shutts partners and CJA founding members Marc Sarnoff and Victoria Mendez were in attendance during the program, which they helped coordinate.

Approximately 18 educators attended the seminar representing several schools within the Archdiocese, including Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, Christopher Columbus High School, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, St. Brendan Catholic School, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy and Monsignor Edward Pace High School. All were engaged participants and contributed significantly to the discussions and learning experience.

Leading the discussions were Father Dennis McManus and Brendan Murphy.

Father Dennis McManus served as Executive Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 1997 to 2006, taught Holocaust Studies at Georgetown University, and currently teaches at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Oakland, California.

Brendan Murphy is Founding Director of the Bearing Witness Institute at the Marist School in Atlanta, where he has taught Holocaust studies since 1994. Additional information can be found at the Bearing Witness Institute website.

On Friday afternoon, participants met with Rabbi Mario Rojzman – referenced as one of the 100 most influential Latinos living in Miami – at Beth Torah synagogue, the first time in a synagogue for many of the participants. There, they participated in Shabbat services and Shabbat dinner.

This was a significant educational event for Catholic educators throughout the Archdiocese of Miami. The CJA is committed to providing continuing education to Catholic schools.  

About Shutts & Bowen LLP

Shutts & Bowen LLP, established in 1910, is a full-service business law firm with approximately 280 lawyers in offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa and West Palm Beach. Learn more about Shutts & Bowen at www.shutts.com.