RECOGNIZING THE ELIAS FAMILY
Alvin “Big Al” Elias was raised in Long Island, New York. He loved to come to Florida on vacation and in 1950 met the love of his life, Lenore. A Brooklyn girl whose father owned two hotels on South Beach, Lenore also came to Miami Beach during “the season” to work for her father. These two young people happened to meet one day on the beach and it was “love at first sight.” They married in 1951, honeymooned in Havana, Cuba and began their lives together in New York, where their two oldest children, Beth and Robyn were born.
After working for years at the family business, Elias and Sons, Al wanted to strike out on his own and he also really wanted to move to Florida, so the small family moved to Miami Beach. Al went to work in the Miami Design District in what is now Wynwood, owning Kane of Miami for over 40 years.
Al and Lenore raised four children adding Ellen and Sammy to the family once they were living in Miami Beach. The Elias family moved from their two bedroom apartment on Hawthorne Avenue to their home in Highland Lakes when Sammy was born in 1961. They remained in the same home for 55 years until Al died in 2016. All of the children grew up at Beth Torah; some through Religious School, Bar & Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, High School in Israel and USY.
The Elias Family have been active members of Beth Torah since 1965. Lenore & Al could always be counted on as involved members in synagogue life; Sisterhood, Men’s Club, shows (Al was a showman), fashion shows and other fundraisers. Al helped Rabbi Max, z”l, in visiting prospective donors for High Holy Day solicitations and was one of his “arm twisters.” As a fluent Spanish speaker, Big Al was one of the first members to welcome Rabbi Rojzman to our synagogue. They really loved each other and shared a very special relationship for many years.
Lenore chaired the Women’s League Torah Fund Program for decades and was seen every year at HHD Services distributing over 100 Torah Fund pins to our Benefactors for their ongoing service to support our students at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Lenore was also PTA President at Highland Oaks Elementary and was active in the Deed Club and several other local organizations.
Because they never had a big wedding, we honored this “royal couple” on their 35th wedding anniversary at our annual Beth Torah Dinner Dance, giving them the wedding that they never had, chuppah, ketubah and all!
Ellen stayed very involved in Beth Torah as well as Jewish life and issues, marching for Soviet Jewry, attending USY as well as LTI. Her strong Jewish and Zionist background took her to Israel several times, and she eventually made Aliyah in 1992.
Sammy married his high school sweetheart Robyn Steinfeld, who grew up in USY at Temple Ner Tamid on Miami Beach. They were married by Rabbi Max at Beth Torah and were involved in synagogue life until moving to Chicago in 1992, where he opened one small WhirlyBall location. After a few years, his WB empire grew to the entire Midwest, converting it from a game into a Sports Entertainment Complex with several locations. They have three sons, Adam, Ryan & Jacob. Sammy passed away earlier this year from gallbladder cancer, not long after his 59th birthday.
After making Aliyah to Israel where Raya was born, Ellen moved back to Florida in 1997 so that Raya would not have to grow up without grandparents, like so many Jewish children were forced to because of the Holocaust. Ellen served on the Beth Torah Board of Directors for several years and was the Youth VP during the early 2000s. She taught many of our USYers as an Advanced Placement social studies teacher at Krop Senior High until her retirement in 2015.
We are so happy that Raya was enrolled in Pre-K3 and never left Beth Torah. Our third generation BT member, Raya was the first girl to lead the complete Shabbat morning services for her Bat Mitzvah in 2007. Until then, it was always a tradition for girls to lead services for their Bat Mitzvah on Friday Night. She was an active USYer and won the Outstanding USY’er Award, the Men’s Club Youth Leadership Award, went to HSI & Wheels, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Krop Senior High and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Florida. Raya attended Shabbat morning services with her Papu for years, until Big Al was no longer able to attend. Raya now lives in Chicago, where she was a Facilitator at the Museum of Science & Industry for 3 ½ years until it closed due to COVID-19.
Al was named a Trustee, was a devoted minyanaire after his retirement and also regularly attended Shabbat morning services. After 65 years of marriage, Big Al passed away in 2016. Ellen continues to carry on her father’s tradition as a regular minyanaire at daily Shacharit Services. She is always the one passing the pushke to collect Tzedakah for those in need.
This Shabbat, Lenore is celebrating her 90th Birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LENORE! A treasured Generational Family as members of Beth Torah for 55 years…L’dor v’dor…three Generations.
Each week one of our generational families will be recognized by our congregation blessed
by the rabbis at both the “virtual” Friday evening and Shabbat morning services.
Over 50 families have been identified with 50 + years of membership at Beth Torah and another
25 families as their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who are currently members of Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus.
To view the Services:
Friday night: https://btbrc.org/livestreaming/
Click on Perez Chapel at 7:00 pm
Shabbat Morning: https://btbrc.org/livestreaming/
Click on Perez Chapel at 9:30 am
