RECOGNIZING THE ROSENTHAL FAMILY
Alan Rosenthal was born in New York City and lived there until age 16, when he graduated high school and started night school at City College of New York. His father was ill at that time and Alan had to work with him during the day. The family moved to Miami Beach in 1954 and Alan went to the University of Miami and then on to the UM School of Law and graduated in February 1961. He met Sylvia, fell in love and married her. Sylvia graduated college and received her M.A. in Early Childhood Education. After they were married, Sylvia taught at N. Miami Elementary, Hebrew Academy, Leroy D. Feinberg Elementary (a/k/a Central Beach Elem) for the next 25+years.
Alan opened his law firm on NE 163rd Street (renamed North Miami Beach Boulevard by Alan due to 163rd Street confusion) directly next door to the Jewish Center of Monticello Park where he & Sylvia joined in 1959 with two small children, Mel (3) and Kerry (2)…. Daniel was born 10 years later. Sylvia & Alan’s “Love Affair” continued and his law firm continued to grow as well. Notwithstanding having added a second floor to the building, the law firm outgrew the building and moved to Aventura
The boys were brought up in Religious School at Beth Torah and both became a Bar Mitzvah with Rabbi Max. Mel attended and graduated Ransom Everglades, then on to UM. Mel began tutoring after graduation primarily math, physics, calculus and the sciences. Kerry went to Ransom Everglades and then Northfield Mt. Herman prep school. He graduated UF and then UM Law. After graduation in 1981, Kerry moved to Boulder, CO and practiced law. Returned to Miami in 1987 to work with Alan and have practiced law together ever since.
Kerry is the father of three children, Emerson (29), Jo (26) and Talia (15) and lives with wife, Jeanne, and daughter Talia in Hollywood. Emerson went to NYU Film School and was one of the editors at Vice Magazine. He now writes screenplays in NYC where he resides. Jo went to Parson School of Design in NYC and did several shows at MOMA and has modeled in many magazines in U.S. and Asia, including Vogue and Nylon. Jo lives in NY. Daniel went to prep school in New England and then UM. After college he went into the aircraft parts business where he has worked for the last 30 years.
In 1989, Sylvia & Alan celebrated their 35th Wedding Anniversary and dedicated the magnificent bronze sculptured Chupah at Beth Torah and were remarried by Rabbi Max at that time. The Chupah now hangs in the Rabbi Max Lipschitz Museum in the main lobby of the synagogue for all to see.
Sylvia opened Princeton Learning Center on W. Dixie Hwy which she operated for over 25 years. Mel worked as a tutor at Princeton and took over on Sylvia’s passing in 2006. Mel continues to tutor today.
Alan served as legal counsel for JC of Monticello Park in the early 60’s and then for Beth Torah for decades. He was a regular on the Cantor Search Committees with meetings held in Alan’s offices next door to Beth Torah to listen to Cantors before inviting them for personal interviews. He was the closest attorney to Beth Torah who had a speakerphone. He was on the Beth Torah Board of Directors for a number of years and then as an Honorary Trustee; a position he still holds today.
Alan continues to practice in Aventura with his firm and his assistant, Cookie, who has been with him for almost 57 years. Kerry still works with Alan…NO! Alan now works with Kerry. Alan was always very, very close with his sister, Schatzi Kassal, who with her late husband, started University of Miami Project: Newborn almost 50 years ago. The Neonatal Unit at Jackson Hospital, one of the largest in the US is now named as the Schatzi & Stanley Kassal Neonatal Unit. Schatzi & Alan are still inseparable and speak every day. Alan was fortunate enough to have met Sheila Slewett six years ago, then fell in love and have been together enjoying life ever since.
We remember Alan & Sylvia z”l Rosenthal and the three generations of the Rosenthal Family over the past 62 years. May you continue to share your tradition and legacy with your synagogue family for generations to follow.
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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
