RECOGNIZING THE ROK, MORJAIN & MOSKOVITZ FAMILIES
Rosa Berezdivin and Natan Rok were both born and raised in Cuba. They married January 11, 1959 at El Patronata – The Jewish Community Center of Cuba. They were always connected to the synagogue and the Jewish community.
Natan & Rosita came to the USA in 1964 with three toddlers, Elizabeth age 3, and twins, Sergio & Benny, age 2. Together with their parents, Isaac & Berta Berezdivin and Salomon & Adela Rok, they came to Miami to start a new life. Natan worked in the “shmattah” business in downtown Miami with Uncle Peisach Rok. Then Natan opened a men’s clothing business.
In 1965, having no money and did not speak English, the Rok Family moved into a 2-bedroom apartment on NE 10th Avenue and the children went to Sabal Palm Elementary School. Rabbi Max Lipschitz and Beth Torah welcomed them with open arms and they happily joined the synagogue in 1968.
Natan opened multiple stores and started buying real estate on Flagler Street; eventually becoming the largest property owner in Downtown Miami. Natan built an empire and in gratitude the State of Florida changed the name of Flagler Street to Natan Rok Boulevard. In 1970, the family moved to Skylake, the children became part of the classes in the trailers at Hillel Community Day School on Biscayne Blvd. Evelyn was born in 1971.
All four children grew up at Hillel and Beth Torah where they became a Bar and Bat Mitzvah. On August 12, 1982, tragedy engulfed this family with the untimely loss of Benny in a car accident at the age of 21. The family named the Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus in 1983 in his memory for generations to always remember and honor his life.
Ely went to the University of Miami, married Marcos Morjain, and had four children: Susan (Michael Sperling) gave birth to Nathan (first grandchild named after Natan), Jonah and Alexa; Bryan (Sharon Shelomovitz) have Brody, Blake and Jagger; Jason (Elise Schwartz) have infant, Oren; and Monica (Harry Salinas) have Alexander and Gabriel, giving Ely & Marcos 9 grandchildren.
Benny & Sergio went to UF and became Gator fans. Sergio continued the legacy of his father’s business, Rok Enterprises. He was blessed with Jared and Veronica (John Weintraub) and first grandchild, Ruby Rok Weintraub.
Evelyn also went to UF and married Robert Moskovitz and have Bradley, Justin and Sara. Rob’s parents, Sandra & David z”l Moskovitz, are also members of Beth Torah.
The Rok Family have helped Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus and many Jewish organizations throughout the community. They helped establish The Rok Family Shul – Chabad Downtown Jewish Center to bring Jewishness and Yiddishkeit to the young families in the Brickell area.
Today, we recognize the Rok, Berezdivin, Morjain and Moskovitz families who represent 5 generations of significant Jewish family life at Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus. On Monday, we also celebrate the birthday of the Matriach of the family, Rosita Rok. They continue to leave a mark on our lives for the past 53 years and we look forward to their commitment to Beth Torah for Generations to follow – L’Dor V’Dor…From Generation to Generation.
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
