Insight
Remember
When •
Re-lrirth
From the pages of the Jewish News for
this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50
years ago.
ffnai Irrith Great Lakes Region makes a fresh start in a new location.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer
A
n Aug. 1 move into new offices represents more
than a physical transport of files and staff for the
Great Lakes Region of B'nai B'rith International.
"This is a part of how we're becoming the new
B'nai B'rith," says i- ran White, acting director of the region.
John Rofel, regional president, sees the move to the Max
M. Fisher Federation Building in Bloom field Township as
coinciding with a "a new beginning."
"Part of my mission is to bring relevance back to this
158-year-old membership organization," says Rofel of West
Bloomfield, who oversees a region that includes Michigan,
northeastern Indiana and northwest :rn Ohio.
A major focus of the "new B'nai B'rith," White says, "is
trying to bring more Jewish people in — to get those of all
ages involved."
White says leaving the old Farmington Hills office, where the
lease ends July 31, involves moving "everything from tributes to
fund-raising, programming and membership files for the entire
region." It includes packing 10-years worth of files by White
and administrative assistant Nita Steam.
Remaining in the old building will be
Credit Union One, which purchased the
B'nai B'rith Covenant Credit Union five
years ago.
White is excited about the new location.
"We chose the Federation Building
because we feel that strategically it is a
good move. We will be close to many
other Jewish organizations and will be
able to network with them."
John Rofel AYn
What's New?
Among the programs in the works is a leadership network
for 20- and 30-somethings, new un:Ls for members in their
late 30s and 40s and for those age 50 and older.
Already going strong is a unit White reactivated, combin-
ing four lodges for nearly 200 members in their 50s and 60s.
"We're working on a musical cabaret aad dinner featuring
local Jewish performers, with proceeds going to musical
scholarships and to promote the arts," White says.
Marsha Rofel, John's wife and Great Lakes Region com-
munications chair, created "Forgotten Child," an education
and advocacy program for mental health care for children.
Programming plans for the coming year also include
bringing some of B'nai B'rith's national programs to the
region. They include the Cuban Jewish Relief Project,
assisting in the revitalization of Judaism in Cuba; Buddy
Bears, bringing.stuffed animals to children in need of a
friend; and Safer Kids, Smarter Kids, directed at educating
children of all ages co avoid abduction and sexual abuse.
The Neighborhood Project received
$250,000 from United Jewish
Charities to revitalize Jewish areas
in Oak Park and Southfield.
At a United Nations' agency
meeting in Geneva, Israel was
accused of seizing water resources
to the detriment of Arab popula-
tions of the administered territories.
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Fran White and Nita Stearn pack boxes for the move.
"Enlighten America," a national B'nai B'rith program
established to promote tolerance and equality and combat
bigotry, hatred and violence, will come to the Great Lakes
Region this summer. Marsha Rofel says locally the project
will include "a committee with ethnic student representa-
tives, with a prograrn geared to high school-aged children."
Its slogan: "To Bigotry, No Tolerance."
Later this year, the Great Lakes Region will present the first
in a series of shows aired on Comcast Cable in much of the
region. "B'nai B'rith Presents," spearheaded by Marsha Rofel
and Steve and Dee Fisher of AAA Productions Inc. in Oak
Park, will include taped showings of a recent talk on the
Middle East by Richard D. Heideman, president of B'nai
B'rith International, and the June installation of Great Lakes
regional officers.
"Our long-range plans are to host a half-hour news maga-
zine format with programming that will be of interest to
our local Jewish community," Marsha Rofel says.
Of the revitalization of the region, John Rofel says, "I am
reaching out to old and new members of B'nai B'rith. I
want B'nai B'rith and the good work it does to promote
Jewish continuity in our community and around the world
to be told. The more people hear of the community service
as well as social programs we are spearheading, the more
people are becoming involved. Sometimes, even I can't keep
track of all the programs we are undertaking."
Rofel says the new B'nai B'rith will move into its new
office at a time when "we in the Great Lakes Region are
leading the way for the other 16 region _ s that comprise the
United States." ❑
The office of the Great Lakes Region of B'nai B'rith
International will move Wednesday, Aug. 1, to the Max
M. Fisher Federation Building, 6735 Telegraph Road,
Suite 304, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301. New phone
number is (248) 646-3100. ❑
Three members of the Jewish com-
munity of greater Kansas City were
among those who died when two
skywalks collapsed in the year-old
Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Local police still had no suspects
in the theft of silver ceremonial
items from Congregation B'nai
Israel-Beth Yehudah in Oak Park.
U.S. Rep. William S. Broomfield,
R-Royal Oak, introduced a bill to
offer senior citizens reduced rates
for travel on commercial airlines,
railroads and busses.
Gideon Sherer, a soccer kicker
from Tel Aviv, was hired by the Los
Angeles Rams for the fall season.
A „..:Z 430V .
A former SS man hanged himself in
his jail cell in Berlin shortly after
his arrest on charges of murdering
Jews in special gassing buses.
Barry M. Grant of Royal Oak
was appointed an assistant prose-
cuting attorney of Oakland
County.
Detroiter Stanley Pasikov, president
of the student council at Central
High School, won a Ford scholar-
ship to the University of Michigan.
The Hebrew Benevolent Society
on Joy Road in Detroit bought 120
feet of adjoining land to be con-
verted into a parking lot.
Detroiter David H. Weisberg, a
reserve officer, was recalled to active
duty with the U. S. Air Force.
— Compiled by Sy Manello,
editorial assistant
7/27
2001
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