Optimistic
Speaking with B'nai grith's John Rofel, new regional _president...
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Stair Writer
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yen with the memory of extensive hours
given to his first tenure in 1992-94, John
Rofel of West Bloomfield accepted his
current appointment as Great Lakes
regional president of B'nai B'rith with excitement.
He took over the position vacated by Senior
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of Macomb County
Steven Kaplan, who resigned after being elected a West
Bloomfield trustee. Rofel took the post in January,
overseeing a region that includes the state of Michigan,
northeastern Indiana and northwestern Ohio.
In light of the announcement 4a May 18 vote
that will determine the fate of regional B'nai B'rith
Youth Organization programming subsidies and a
decentralization of B'nai B'rith operations, Rofel
speaks on behalf of the organization.
What is your plan to help keep our local B'nai
B'rith organization funded?
"Right now, each region's B'nai B'rith and BBYO
budget comes from the B'nai B'rith International (BBI)
office in Washington, D.C. Just like the ADL (Anti-
Defamation League) and Hillel: The Foundation for
Jewish Campus Life, which started within B'nai B'rith,
BBYO has grown. It shows success for what (these
agencies) have accomplished — that they became so
successful."
A proposed plan would cut the BBYO budget. Rofel
is an author of a revised budget currently being
reviewed by the executive committee of B'nai B'rith, to
be voted on at an upcoming Board of Governors meet-
ing. His hope is for a plan that would allow a portion
of what is fund-raised locally to stay within the region
to help fund our local BBYO and support local com-
munity services, and a portion to go to the BBI office.
"We raise a lot of money in Detroit with fund-
raising and with membership. We always make more
money than we spend in Detroit," Rofel says.
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$313,400 includes the $78,400 from BBI, $74,500
from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit,
$41,500 from Federation to offset a BBI cut last
year, and $65,000 from an annual fund-raising cam-
paign by 13BYO's Michigan Region board members.
Weiner cautioned that no assumptions should
be made until decisions are handed down in the
next month.
But, he added, local leaders "want to continue
the programs people have come to expect.
"What would these kids do if there were no BBYO?
don't think they'd go to other Jewish youth groups." El
child molestation and staying away from strangers.
An annual kosher New Year's Eve party at Adat
Shalom Synagogue, started by Rofel, continues
under the direction of B'nai B'rith members, Jerry
and Harvey Olson. A 19th annual golf outing is
scheduled for the end of June.
"I'm also a member of the accountants unit," he
says. "We do free tax returns on Sundays for seniors.
We speak a little Yiddish, have a little fun and not
only do they benefit from us being there, but we
benefit also. And our children see what we do and
are instilled with a sense of giving."
How does B'nai B'rith connect with the world?
"We are an international organization with affiliation
in 58 countries around the world. We meet with heads
of state in Israel. We have a World Center in Jerusalem.
In small towns, we can hope to start a lodge, and have
them adopt BBYO programs and team up with larger
communities to help fight assimilation, strengthen
bonds and keep our future strong and bright. We are
also the largest provider of subsidized housing for sen-
iors that exists almost anywhere in the world, outside of
national governments. We have observer status at the
United Nations and are consulted on issues that affect
Israel and Jewish communities."
What caused you to become such a strong promot-
er of B'nai Brith?
"I am not from a strong religious background, but I
grew up in Oak Park, where it was easy to meet other
Jews. Ninety-five percent of my school was Jewish.
But now the community is spread out. I worry about
assimilation, loss of tradition and sense of Jewish com-
munity. We have to grab on to Jewish identity."
He sees B'nai B'rith, BBYO and Hillel as the prom-
ise of Jewish continuity.
Who should become involved with B'nai B'rith?
"Everyone," says Rofel, married for 24 years to
Marsha Rofel and father to 17-year-old Leslie. "Our
first priority is membership. In B'nai B'rith, you can
get involved at any level — as an adult, as a youth —
to socialize, for athletics. It is actually full of ordinary
people making a difference. I believe strongly that
every one of us comes into the world with nothing
and goes out with nothing. And if we can change
somebody's life and make the world a little better,
we'll find the rewards far outweigh what we put in."
What local program involvement have you had?
"I've been involved in the B'nai B'rith Leadership
Network," he says of Michigan's young leadership
prototype, founded eight years ago by Rofel and
Bobbie Levine, former executive director of B'nai
B'rith, who is also his aunt.
Rofel and his wife Marsha earned the B'nai B'rith
International Label A. Katz Young Leadership award
in 1994. "The Network provides a place for young
people to get together and do things like build a
sukkah, go on a camping trip over Shabbat, make
lifelong friends," he says.
He brought international programs to Detroit,
including the Buddy Bear program, which provides
funding to purchase stuffed bears for kids in crisis.
Soon, he will do the same with a program that brings
professionals into local schools with "Safer Kids,
Smarter Kids" booklets dealing with prevention of
How would you encourage others to belong?
"There is not a family in this community not touched
by B'nai B'rith, through bowling, athletics, BBYO,
Hillel — that's what we're here for. We are a great source
of networking, for business, for making friends, for
meeting the community. And we represent everyone —
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform — and we look hard
to reach the unaffiliated," says Rofel of Temple Beth El.
Part of Rofel's passion stems from international con-
nections. "You can make friends all over the world,"
he says. "At international conventions, you hear peo-
ple speak in many accents and then they come togeth-
er to say the HaMotzi in one language. We all come
together. That's the power of B'nai B'rith."
What you see for the future?
Joining B'nai B'rith nationally in a major membership
drive and a revitalization of existing lodges and units,
Rofel personally takes applications for BBI membership.
"When I received one from a young adult from
Wyandotte, I picked up the phone to call that person," he
says. "That's outreach and that's where the strength is.
"B'nai B'rith was first started to provide orphanages
for children without parents. As the needs of the com-
munity changed, our focus changed. For the future, I
see more family-oriented programming. I also want to
see B'nai B'rith and BBYO come together in a com-
bined fundraising cabinet within the region. We are
stronger as a group. We are one family. We can have
events together and raise more money and have more
people involved. It's win-win." 0
For information on B'nai B'rith membership,
programs or to attend a 7:30 p.m. Monday, May
7, program at Temple Israel with International
BBI President Richard Heideman, speaking on
his perspective on current Middle East unrest,
call Fran White, acting director, B'nai B'rith
Great Lakes Region, at (248) 855 5255.
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JEN
5/4
2001
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