Maccabee Bar Association brings new voice to Central Florida legal community
Lawrence Kolin, from the left, Jason Herman, Gary Salzman, Deborah Moskowitz, Ben Newman at a membership gathering at an Irish pub in Orlando’s College Park neighborhood.
A newly established voluntary bar association in Central Florida is making its presence felt — blending community, culture, and legal tradition. The Maccabee Bar Association of Central Florida is quickly gaining momentum as a unique professional network with a mission rooted in Jewish legal heritage and inclusivity.
Founded by Orlando attorney Gary Salzman, who is now serving his second term as president, the Maccabee Bar Association welcomes all attorneys and judges — Jewish or not — who share an interest in its mission and values, which include “the furtherance of the common interests of Jewish attorneys and judges in Florida, and the education of the Florida legal community and the public on historic Jewish law and legal history.”
In addition to supporting the legal rights of Jewish attorneys and judges, encouraging camaraderie, and facilitating networking opportunities, the group’s bylaws call for upholding “the highest standards of integrity, ethics, honor, and courtesy of the association’s members in the legal profession.” At present, the association consists mainly of lawyers and judges concentrated in Central Florida area and so the name has been modified to reflect this.
Ambassador and founding director, Orlando mediator Lawrence Kolin, who suggested the Maccabee name, says eventually the aim is to aid formation of chapters that become a recognized local voluntary bar in other interested communities. The not-for-profit continues to seek new members and is open to any Florida Bar member in good standing who supports the purposes and mission.
The Maccabees maintain a speaker series with lawyers such as 9/11 Fund Special Master Ken Feinberg, as well as Rabbi Emeritus Steven Engel who spoke about Halakhah as a foundation of modern law. Events coordinated by social chairs Steve Sambol and Steve Eichenblatt included receptions at Castle Irish Pub and Digress Wine, Decision Tactical, as well as an annual lakeside membership Hanukkah party hosted by attorney couple Cat and Adam Losey.
The group invites followers to its LinkedIn page featuring topical posts on such topics as the rise in antisemitism and encourages those interested in joining to utilize the contact form at www.maccabee.law.
