Rabbi Paul Irving Bloom died peacefully in Atlanta, Jan. 29, at the age of 88. Rabbi Bloom is survived by his loving wife of almost 65 years, Patricia Frankel Bloom of Atlanta; children, Jonathan (Aurora) Bloom of Columbus, Ohio; and daughter, Judy (Jonathan) Minnen of Atlanta; grandchildren, Michael Minnen, Molly Minnen and Ariel Bloom; nephew Michael J. Bloom of Buffalo, N.Y.; and niece Nadine A. Bloom of Amsterdam, N.Y. He was preceded in death by his parents, Florence Kaplan Bloom and Herman Bloom, his brother Rabbi Samuel A. Bloom and his sister-in-law, Eleanor Nadel Bloom. Rabbi Bloom was born Nov. 30, 1931 in Hattiesburg, Miss. He was a first generation American. He spent most of his childhood in Vidalia, Ga., graduating from Vidalia High School in 1948. While in high school, Rabbi Bloom held his first job working as a radio announcer and earning $1 an hour. He briefly attended the University of Georgia before transferring to and then graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in political science in 1952. Rabbi Bloom remained in Cincinnati for full-time study at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and was ordained a rabbi in 1956. He and Mrs. Bloom were married in 1955. While at HUC, Rabbi Bloom served as a student rabbi in Charleroi, Pa. and later in Anniston, Ala. After ordination, Rabbi Bloom served as a chaplain in the United States Air Force from 1956 to 1958. He was stationed in Germany and he and Mrs. Bloom have many fond memories of their time in Europe. He and Mrs. Bloom visited bases in Germany, Holland, and France, serving the Jewish Air Force personnel there. During this time, they were able to travel to Israel to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the creation of the state. After his military service, Rabbi Bloom took a position at Temple Sinai in New Orleans as an assistant rabbi to Rabbi Julian Feibelman from 1958 to 1960. Rabbi Bloom served as rabbi of the Springhill Avenue Temple in Mobile, Ala. from 1960 to 1973, and he and Mrs. Bloom retained many close friendships from those years. Living in Mobile during these years gave them the opportunity to live, experience, and participate in many moving, meaningful, heartbreaking, and hopeful moments of the civil rights movement. While Rabbi Bloom was a full-time student at HUC, he completed the coursework for a master’s in political science which he ultimately completed a decade later when he was motivated to write his thesis on the desegregation of the public schools in Mobile. He later accepted a position at Temple Israel in Dayton and served that congregation from 1973 until his retirement in 1997. During the Dayton years, Rabbi Bloom was gratified and proud to hold leadership positions in the three major organizations of the Reform Movement: The Union for Reform Judaism (formerly the Union of American Hebrew Congregations), the Central Conference of American Rabbis and his alma mater, HUC. Locally, he was active in Rotary and other interfaith, community service, and civic organizations. After retiring in 1997, Rabbi Bloom continued serving as a part-time rabbi, traveling approximately monthly to Congregation Beth Israel in Gadsden, Ala. until its closing in 2011, and to Temple Beth-El in Anniston, Ala. until he retired again in June 2017. He and Mrs. Bloom also spent many years serving on cruise ships as the cruise rabbi, a gig he really enjoyed. Rabbi Bloom reflected fondly on the opportunity the cruises gave him to serve as a rabbi for people with many different backgrounds. Rabbi and Mrs. Bloom were also active in the National Association of Retired Reform Rabbis, serving as its executive directors for four years. They valued the bonding with colleagues and spouses which this group nurtured. Rabbi Bloom was warm, generous, and witty. He loved studying and living Judaism, was devoted to his wife, children, grandchildren, and extended family members, enjoyed a good laugh and a good meal and loved to travel. He spoke often about the importance of the ethics of Judaism. He served as an example of an ethical and love-filled life to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed. Interment was at the Springhill Avenue Temple Cemetery in Mobile. Please send contributions to a synagogue or charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Bloom, 3747 Peachtree Road NE, Apt. 1521, Atlanta, GA 30319.

Ivan J. Goldfarb, Ph.D., formerly of Dayton, died Feb. 10 at age 87. He was the beloved husband of Sonia; devoted father of Barry of Arlington, Texas, Ron (Susan), and David (Nancy Barnish) of Cleveland; loving grandfather of Josh (Mei), Ethan (Molly), Lily, Adam and Meghan (Ben) Tedrick; adoring great-grandfather of Ryker Whitton and Sam Tedrick; dear brother of Stuart (Marilyn) and Judy (Bob) Koor. Interment was at Mayfield Cemetery, Cleveland Heights. Contributions are suggested to Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple or Greater Cleveland Congregations, 6114 Francis Ave. Cleveland, OH 44127.

Paul Kulback, age 80, passed away Jan. 23. He was born in Cincinnati, Dec. 13, 1939. Mr. Kulback was a volunteer for Trotwood Rescue for 20 years and served as chief. He served on the board of Jewish Family Services for many years, volunteered for the Russian Family Relocation Program, and was a past board member of Temple Israel. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sondra; son Andy (Candy) Kulback; daughter Jodi (Joe) Miller; sister Marian (Bob) Rubin; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Sharon and Elliot Levy; many nieces, nephews, family and friends. Interment was at Riverview Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Israel or the charity of your choice.

Barry M. Serotkin, age 76 of Centerville, passed away Jan. 23 at The Hospice of Dayton from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Mr. Serotkin was a buyer for Elder-Beerman Stores for 29 years, retiring in 1995 and then was the executive director of Beth Jacob Congregation, retiring in 2012. He was a longtime member and past president of Beth Jacob Congregation. Mr. Serotkin is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Haana S.; daughter, Michele Arnold of Centerville; sons and daughter-in-law, Kenneth Serotkin of Dayton and Michael and Helen Serotkin of Miami Township; sister and brother-in-law, Sandra and Max Wrobel of Cincinnati; grandchildren, Charles and Nathan Arnold, Gavin Serotkin; stepgranddaughter, Jamie Hawkins; other relatives and many friends. Interment was at Beth Jacob Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The Hospice of Dayton, Beth Jacob Congregation, or The Michael J. Fox Foundation in Mr. Serotkin’s memory. The family thanks Dr. Larry Lawhorne for the exceptional care he provided. The family also thanks Amy and her team from The Hospice of Dayton Coming Home and staff and volunteers at The Hospice of Dayton for the wonderful care and support they provided to Mr. Serotkin.

To read the complete March 2020 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.