Home / See, Read & Share / Federation News

27th Annual Judicial Reception Honorees

LANGER

PALERMO

ALVAREZ

The 27th Annual Judicial Reception, hosted by the Attorneys’ Division of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, will pay tribute to Judge Lester Langer, Judge Peter R. Palermo and attorney Cesar L. Alvarez, each of whom has guided the South Florida community in a unique and monumental way. Chaired this year by Jeffrey B. Kaplan, the popular event will take place on Tuesday, March 22 at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Miami Downtown, 1601 Biscayne Boulevard.

Judge Lester Langer will receive the 2011 Community Service Award for his devotion to the community and his work to bring positive attention to the court systems through leadership, scholarship and public service. He has been committed to improving family dynamics and providing support for parents and youth in Florida through his work in the Family and Juvenile Divisions of the County Court. He continues to speak out against domestic violence through his involvement in the courtroom, in numerous social-service organizations, and by lecturing at various Miami-Dade institutions. Langer has served as a judge in the Florida legal system and has presided over the Domestic Violence, Civil, Family, and most recently, the Juvenile Division of the County Court.

Judge Peter R. Palermo will be honored with the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award for his exceptional work as a public servant. A decorated war veteran, the first Mayor of West Miami and a Senior United States Magistrate Judge, Palermo has served our country with distinction, honor and civility. He has been instrumental in establishing and growing the Magistrate Judge system, and served as the first judge in the now-587-judge system. Palermo continues to guide the South Florida community and the country at large, presiding on the bench after more than 40 years. He is proud to be one of the longest-serving judges in the United States.

Cesar L. Alvarez, Esq. will receive the 2011 Theodore “Ted” Klein Special Recognition Award, which honors an individual who has had a profound impact on members of the judiciary. Alvarez has shown tireless commitment to community service, using his mastery of the law and dedication to philanthropy to improve the Jewish and overall communities of Miami-Dade County. He has enriched the quality of life for so many through his involvement in institutions serving multi-cultural and youth populations, including United Way, Florida International University, the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts, and Our Kids, Inc. Alvarez has demonstrated a strong bond with Israel and the Jewish people through his efforts to forge an alliance between the Cuban and Jewish communities in Miami.

To make a reservation for the Judicial Reception, click here. For more information, contact Pam DiGiacomo, Director of the Attorneys’ Division, at [email protected] or 786.866.8627.

To see a list of past Judicial Reception honorees, click here.

Federation and Partners Sending Medical Equipment to Northern Israel

Federation and Partners Sending Medical Equipment to Northern Israel

With northern Israel under constant rocket attacks, Federation recently distributed an additional 40 pallets of lifesaving medical equipment to 37 area municipalities.

Read More

Register Now for Everything but the Turkey

Register Now for Everything but the Turkey

Give back this Thanksgiving holiday by participating in the 16th Annual Everything but the Turkey, hosted by Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Center (JVC) in North Dade on Sunday, November 10, 11 a.m. and South Dade on Sunday, November 17, 2 p.m.

Read More

Beit Issie Extends Their Reach 


Beit Issie Extends Their Reach 


For the past year, Beit Issie Shapiro has been expanding their work to help Israelis with disabilities cope with ongoing trauma as a result of the horrors of October 7.

Read More

Holocaust Education Week Begins November 4

Holocaust Education Week Begins November 4

Comprising cinematic and literary presentations, along with lectures and discussions, this year’s programming uses the legacy of the Holocaust as lens to view the current rise in antisemitism and the ongoing war in Israel.

Read More

Stay in Touch

Receive news about Greater Miami Jewish Federation events and more.