Luis Sadovnic and Moises Rodan, all residents of Champlain Towers South, Surfside had more in common than their addresses: They went to the same Jewish highschool in Caracas. After the collapse of the condo building last Thursday, they are still missing.It's something we didn't expect. Esther Beniflah Melul, Esther Beniflah Melul's friend and former high school student, stated that they all fled Venezuela in search of better opportunities and a better future. These things are possible in Venezuela, but they have not happened here. We were all shocked.Three Champlain Towers residents, all in their 20s, are graduates from Colegio Moral y Luces Herzl-Bialik. This private Jewish school is a graduate of which they are now in their late twenties. Beniflah stated that many of the high school's graduates went to South Florida as early adults, either for work or college after the economic collapse in Venezuela. She stated that they were active in the local Jewish community and religiously committed.Beniflah stated that the Jewish community has been very supportive. She explained that they have organized donations, prayer groups, and psychological support for friends and family. They are very caring. They care a lot. Some people don't even know their victims.26-year-old Levine arrived in the United States seven years ago, after completing college in Venezuela. Beniflah, a friend of Levine since age 12, describes him as a private person who is straight-shooter and an honest person who is always focused on the positive.She said that he only hung out with friends and did only what made him happy. This was his best attribute. He was always the real deal.Andres Levine planned to marry in August. He is a cousin to Moises Rodan who also lived in this building.Levine was a finance worker and was engaged to marry in August. His fiance wasn't in the building.He was set to marry in August. There were so many things we wanted to do, so many plans. ... He was planning to join me for dinner on Thursday night. The night before, we had spoken. It's hard to believe that he has left.Continue the storyMoises Rodan's cousin, Levine, lived on the third floor.Beniflah explained that they had two apartments in the same building. It was almost like neighbors who walk from one unit to another.Rodan was just graduating from the University of Florida where he had studied computer engineering. He was also a member of the Hispanics in Electrical and Computer Engineering student group. He posted a photo on his LinkedIn page one month ago of himself in his cap-and-gown in front of a Gator statue.He wrote that I am pleased to announce that I have received my Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Florida. It was a remarkable journey of perseverance and hard work. My family, mentors, friends, and family members were all there to support me through this crucial chapter in my life. Go GatorsMoises Rodan is pictured here with a friend, who recently graduated from University of Florida.Luis Sadovnic is also a UF grad. He was his third classmate at the Caracas Jewish high school. He met Nicole Nicky Langesfeld there, who lived in the Champlain Towers with him. According to The Associated Press, the couple married in a private civil ceremony due to pandemic restrictions.According to his LinkedIn profile, Luis completed a Nova Southeastern University MBA in 2019. Nicky also graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in the same year. She is an associate at Reed Smith Miami law firm and a commercial litigator.Nicky's family and friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help with their families' travel expenses and other general expenses. Nicky's family hails from Argentina and Luis has relatives in Venezuela.Nicky is proud of her family, friends and pets. Her presence is bigger than life and her senses of humor are unsurpassed, wrote the GoFundMe organizer. She also shared that she loves to spoil her pets (a guinea-pig and two dogs) and to go to the beach as well as to restaurants.Luis is down-to-earth, caring, and loves his family. He would do anything for Nicky. According to the page, he enjoys playing golf with his friends and spending quality time with Nicky. Luis's resume states that he is trilingual (English Spanish Hebrew and Hebrew) as well that he played for the Venezuelan National Soccer Team between 15-17 years old.
