Bernie Goldblatt

Bernie Goldblatt, a Minneapolis Jewish communal leader for almost 50 years, died in Highland Park, IL on November 3, 2025, at the age of 73 while visiting family.
Bernie is survived by his wife of 50 years, Leslie Goldblatt; daughters Talia (Ari) Derman, Aviva (Dan) Masler, Leora (Dan) Falkin; grandchildren Lila, Nili and Erez Derman, Dahlia Masler, Noa and Sasha Falkin; siblings David (Cooky) Goldblatt, Dan (Zoe) Goldblatt, Ellen Goldblatt (Bob Rothstein); mother-in-law Betty Kohn; and many nieces, nephews, and grandnephews. He is predeceased by his sister-in-law, Yael Goldblatt.
Bernie was born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 1, 1952 to Esther and Louis Goldblatt. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1974 with a BA in Near Eastern Studies. He met Leslie while they were spending their junior year abroad at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and they immediately went back to volunteer during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which established Bernie and Leslie as lifelong supporters of Israel.
Bernie received his law degree from George Washington University in 1978 and they relocated to Minneapolis where Leslie grew up. Bernie worked for many years as an international business executive for COMB (Close-Out Merchandise Buyers) and helped establish the first home shopping network in the country, Cable Value Network (later QVC).
He gave generously of his time serving as President of the Minneapolis Jewish Day School (now Smith Jewish Academy). He decided to leave the corporate world and became the Executive Director of Adath Jeshurun Congregation in Minnetonka where he served with distinction for 20 years. He joined NAASE (National Association of Synagogue Educators), and later became President of NAASE and mentored Executive Directors around the country.
He retired from Adath Jeshurun in 2020 and miraculously survived one of the devastating early versions of COVID that landed him in the ICU for 2 months and then an additional 2 months in rehab, all isolated from his loved ones. He had long haul Covid and was greatly diminished by the ordeal. Despite this, he spent these past five years cherishing every moment with family and close friends, and lived every day filled with gratitude.
Donations in Bernie's memory can be made to the following:
Adath Jeshurun Congregation https://adathjeshuruncongregation.shulcloud.com/payment.php (select Bernie Goldblatt Fund)
Courage Kenney Rehabilitation Institute