70 | MARCH 31 • 2022 

then with my grandchildren. So this was the first time I had the 
time to learn the trope and learn how to chant,” Flo said. 
Flo worked with Shir Shalom’s Cantor Penny Steyer to select 
the Torah verses and worked off Steyer’s recordings. But daugh-
ter Marci said that Flo learned the verses on her own and some-
times studied together with her granddaughter to prepare. 
“My mom was the best bat mitzvah student I’ve ever had,” 
Marci said. 
At the celebration, each grandchild, ranging in ages from 25 to 
6, proudly brought a tallit bag that was needlepointed and cus-
tom-designed by Flo. Flo’s sister, Shir Shalom member Beatrice 
Mandel, 91, presented Flo with her tallit. 
Flo has made a tallit bag for each of her 16 grandchildren, 
even the ones who have not reached the age of a b’nai mitzvah. 
Each contains a handwritten note inside from Flo to be opened 
at their b’nai mitzvah. 
“
At the bat mitzvah I wanted a photo with all 16 of them hold-
ing their own tallit bags,” Flo said, “even the ones that were too 
young. I said they could hold them, but could not open them 
until they reached the age of bar or bat mitzvah.” 
As she and her granddaughter chanted from the Torah, they 
stood beneath a chuppah created by Flo and adorned with many 
Jewish symbols. It was held by four of her grandsons. 
“One day, I hope that my grandchildren will use this chuppah 
at their weddings,” she said. 

ABOVE: The chuppah Bubbie Flo made for her 
16 grandchildren to all get married under one 
day, held by four of her grandsons, Jacob Bloch, 
Zachary Bienstock, Sam Bloch and 
Aaron Bienstock.

TOP: Flo Bloch’s 16 grandchildren holding the 
tallit bags she made for them.

continued from page 68
A Night to Remember

