66 | MARCH 31 • 2022 

A

fter creating a legacy of Jewish learning as the founding 
Jewish education director at Temple Shir Shalom of 
West Bloomfield — including inspiring eight students 
over the decades to pursue rabbinical careers — Flo Bloch, who 
now lives in Boynton Beach, Fla., became a bat mitzvah at age 
81 on March 5. 
Sharing the bimah and the Torah portion Pekudei with Flo 
at a service and celebration held in Boca Raton, Fla., was her 
granddaughter Lexie Bloch, 14, of Boca Raton. 
Marci Bloch, one of Bloch’s six children and rabbi at Temple 
Dor Dorim in Weston, Fla., said the meaningful weekend and 
family gathering not only honored the Jewish value of l’dor v’dor
(from generation to generation), but the celebration date fell close 
to the timing of the 100th anniversary of when Judy Kaplan, 
America’s first bat mitzvah, was called to the Torah. 
“We celebrated the bat mitzvah of both my mother and niece in 
the same year that this country had its first bat mitzvah ceremo-
ny a century ago,” said Marci, 47. “My mom came of age when it 
did not cross many people’s minds that girls could become a bat 
mitzvah, and it’s meaningful to see how times have changed. My 
mother has always been my inspiration to pursue Jewish learning 
and become a rabbi. My mom has done everything possible to 
lead (by example) to make sure Judaism is part of our family.”

81-year-old shares the bimah 
with granddaughter for their 
b’not mitzvah.

Better Late than Never

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER 

Rabbi Marci Bloch, Flo 
Bloch, granddaughter 
Lexie Bloch, 14. Lexie 
shared her bat mitzvah 
with her Bubbie, and 
Auntie Marci officiated.

Flo and her 
husband, Louis
“Lucky” Bloch 

continued on page 68

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