Tag: Rabbi E Bloom

Consecrating the Jewish Cemetery

The article transcribed below appeared in the Merthyr Express 85 years ago today – 2 November 1935.

Consecration of New Cemetery at Cefn

The new extension of the Hebrew Cemetery at Cefn Coed was formally consecrated and declared open on Sunday in the presence of a large gathering.  The new section adjoins the old portion of the cemetery, which has been in existence upwards of 70 years or so, and the ground has been prepared and greatly improved by the inclusion of concrete paths and terraces overlooking the main road to Brecon. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. E. Bloom, the minister of the local Hebrew Congregation, who referred to the fulfilment of a very necessary want in the acquisition of the plot of land which was converted into the new portion of the cemetery.  He paid a tribute to the work of the committee, and especially to Mrs. Raina Grwsener (formerly of Treharris) who had handsomely subscribed towards the project and had thus helped them to realise their ambition.

Mrs. Grwsener, in declaring the place open, said she hoped the ground would not be used for many years. It was her pleasure to render this service to the community. Mr. Sol. Freedman presented Mrs. Grwsener with a silver trowel, suitably, inscribed, on behalf of the members of Merthyr Hebrew Congregation. A reception and tea followed at the Lesser Drill Hall. Mr. Sol. Freedman, who presided, was supported by the Rev. E. Bloom, Mr. Isaac Hamilton, Mr. E. M. Cohen, Mr. A. Moscovitch, Mr. B. Shelower, Mr. Harris Schwartz, and others. The Chairman made touching reference to the recent passing away of Mr. Hermann Gittlesohn, their honourable member and one of the founders of the congregation, whose demise they all greatly deplored.  The speaker called upon the audience to stand in memory of their departed friend and co-religionist. Mr. Freedman then paid a tribute to all those who had worked so well for the noble cause, and especially  mentioned Mr. A. Moscovitch, the president of the burial society, who had devoted a considerable amount  of his time towards the supervision of the work connected with the renovation of the new cemetery.

In responding to the toast of the visitors, Mr. Elkan, Pontypridd, said the Merthyr Congregation was, without doubt, the finest in South Wales.  They had an admirable leader in the Rev. E. Bloom, who had served them so faithfully for the past 35 years.  He hoped they would all continue to prosper. Responding, Mr Isaac Hamilton (treasurer) said they had an ideal congregation and felt proud of its members.  Mrs Grwsener had done the right thing in making her gifts during her lifetime, a matter which afforded gratification to the giver when one saw the fruits of one’s endeavours.

Mr. Harris Schwartz said that as one of the promoters of the new cemetery he felt delighted to witness the completion of their efforts.  Mr. Moscovitch and others also spoke.  Mr. G. A. Swallow proposed the vote of thanks to the ladies’ committee, who had worked so ably for the cause.

Dr Solomon ‘Sammy’ Bloom

One of the most well-remembered characters in Merthyr between the 1930s and the 1970s was Dr Solomon Bloom, more commonly known as Sammy.

Solomon Bloom was born on 2 November 1898, one of seven children born to Eli and Sarah Bloom. Eli and Sarah (née Levine) were born in Riga, Latvia, but moved to Britain in the late 1800s, eventually settling in Merthyr in 1901 when Eli was appointed as the rabbi at Merthyr Synagaogue.

Sammy was educated at Cyfarthfa Castle School before going to study medicine at Cardiff University, and finishing his medical studies at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, graduating in 1922 as a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) and Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (LRCP). He began his medical career as an anaesthetist at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, but soon made the switch to become a surgeon.

In 1930, he returned to Merthyr to go into General Practice with his younger brother Myer (1905-1974), opening a surgery in Church Street; his older brother Abraham already having established himself as a pharmacist in the town, with premises in Victoria Street (right). Shortly afterwards, he was invited to become a member of the honorary medical staff at Merthyr General Hospital, and in 1940 he was appointed as consultant to the Merthyr Tydfil Corporation, working at St Tydfil’s Hospital.

His duties at St Tydfil’s included orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, and he also became obstetrician at Gwaunfarren Maternity Hospital and venereologist at the Merthyr special clinic. At the inception of the NHS in 1948, he became senior hospital medical officer at St Tydfil’s. As well as his hospital duties, he carried on his general practice until 1961, when he was given the status of consultant surgeon, a post he relinquished when he retired from surgical practice at the age of 72.

Photo courtesy of J Ann Lewis

Those who worked with him remember him as a consummate professional and a perfectionist in surgery, gaining the reputation as one of the finest surgeons in the town. Short of stature, he would often have to stand on a platform to perform operations. Despite his elevated medical position and brilliance as a surgeon, his humanity always shone through, and he would always go out of his way to do the best for his patients, and to his colleagues he was simply “a lovely man”.

As well as his medical duties, Sammy Bloom was active in local medical politics, being chairman of the local medical committee and one of the representatives on Merthyr executive council for 14 years. He also served time as chairman of the medical staff committee and of the North Glamorgan Division of the British Medical Association. In addition to this he was appointed chief medical officer to the Welsh Boxing Board of Control, and officiated at many fights. He was also a volunteer for the St John’s Ambulance Brigade as the local corps surgeon, and in 1958, he was appointed an associate officer of the Most Venerable Order of St John.

Away from medicine, his religion meant a great deal to him. A devout Jew, he acted as president of the Merthyr Tydfil Hebrew Congregation for many years, and represented Merthyr on the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

In 1971, he moved to London with his wife Norah, but kept abreast of medical matters by discussing them with four of his five children – two doctors and two optometrists.

Sammy died on 17 August 1989, whilst on holiday. According to his obituary in the British Medical Journal, “typically, he had been playing roulette successfully the night before”. He was 90 years of age.