It is with heavy hearts that we announce that former Of Counsel for WSH, Bernard Mandler, passed away this weekend in Miami at the age of 87.

After moving to attend law school at the University of Miami, School of Law, Mandler set up his personal and professional roots here. He became a trailblazer in Miami. Most notably, he was the attorney for the “Bible Trial” of 1960 (Chamberlin vs. Dade County). Mandler represented five plaintiffs who challenged religious prayer in schools. When The Florida Supreme Court upheld non-sectarian bible reading, Mandler and his clients appealed to the US Supreme Court. In 1965, the court came down with its historic ruling that no public school can require prayer sessions or bible reading.

He was also the chairman of Community Relations Committee of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and was chosen to meet with Pope John Paul II for the pontiff’s 1987 visit to Miami because of his civic work in matters of civil rights and interfaith partnerships.

He will be greatly missed. 

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