Kol Ami's Chad Rochkind to lead
Reform movement youth.
LISA FEIN
Special to the Jewish News
T
emple Kol Ami's Chad Rochkind, 17, is the
national president-elect of the Reform
movement's 10,000-member youth federa-
tion.
The West Bloomfield resident was elected over two
other candidates for the one-year term, beginning in
June, as president of the North American Federation of
Temple Youth (NFTY).
Rochkind's goals include raising awareness of NFTY
at the regional level while giving members a sense of
ownership and empowerment in what they do. He
hopes to increase NFTY's political voice. He believes
the organization has lost its political presence and he
wants to gain it back.
"The freedom of the entire world is at stake and
NFTY is currently silent," says the NFTY-Michigan
president.
A senior at West Bloomfield High School, Rochkind
says he's a good listener. "I created an open forum at
regional events," he says. "This is where concerns and
suggestions are discussed."
Rochkind says he plans to delegate authority and not
try to do it all himself. "Delegation is also important in
creating future leaders, since one person can't do all the
work by themselves," he says.
His responsibilities will include serving on the Union
of American Hebrew Congregations board, Reform
Judaism's governing body. UAHC represents 1.5 mil-
lion people (320,000 families) and 913 synagogues in
North America.
Rochkind also will run the network of 21 regions
represented by NFTY and help the NFTY board
organize the youth federation's North American con-
vention.
Son of Lynne Roman and stepson to her husband,
Rabbi Norman Roman, Rochkind will spend this sum-
mer at Kutz Camp, NFTY's leadership camp in
Warwick, N.Y.
Recalling how he got involved with NFTY, he said:
"I went to my first event, called Freshco, as an eighth
grader. I did not like it and I said I would never go
back. My stepsister, Caryn, who is now 19, talked me
into going again and I loved it."
The next year, Rochkind became the freshman repre-
sentative, a voice for the local NFTY board. In his
sophomore and junior years, he was religious and
cultural vice president for the Temple Kol Ami
Temple Youth (KATY).
"People at Kutz camp thought I would make a
good president. I had to consider this for a while."
But he quickly adds, "Being elected as president
is the, best thing that ever happened to me."
Chad Rochkind
Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise
Shabbat Tonight
Chad Rochkind and Rabbi Elliott Kleinman, the Cleveland-based outgoing regional direc-
tor of the North East Lakes Council of UAHC, will speak at the Metropolitan Detroit
Federation of Reform Synagogues' annual Isaac Mayer Wise Shabbat Service at 8 p.m.
Friday, March 29, at Temple Kol Ami. They will discuss their vision for Reform Judaism.
Rabbi Wise founded the UAHC in 1873 and the Hebrew Union College in 1875.
Desire To Do
Rochkind's father, Sanford (Sandy) Rochkind of
Oak Park, says his son told him "he decided to
run for president to do good for NFTY. His
motivation was heartfelt. There was no ego or
power needs involved. It was not about him but
serving the organization. He is the nicest person I
know."
Chad Rochkind has attended Temple Kol Ami's
religious school since fourth grade. He has been
chosen. Student of the Year every year for making
the biggest contribution to his grade level.
He spent his summers at Olin Sang Rubi Union
Institute Camp (better known as OSRUI), in
Oconomowak, Wis., for five years and said it was
instrumental in his Jewish education. He has vis-
ited Israel twice and lived there for a month.
"Chad is a very unique child and is different
than the average," his mother says. "He is very
compassionate. He is a gift."
She describes how his brother, Justin, 16, had
cancer (now in remission) and how Chad was
supposed to go to Israel to study for a semester.
He canceled the trip so he could be with his
brother.
Being the stepson of Rabbi Roman has also
influenced Rochkind's NFTY experience. "My
stepdad has encouraged me," he says. "He has
been a teacher and a mentor to me."
Last June, the NFTY National General
American Board made Rabbi Roman an honorary
lifetime member.
In addition to keeping busy with NFTY activi-
ties, Rochkind is on West Bloomfield High
School's yearbook staff and is editor of the aca-
demic section.
He has been accepted into University of
Michigan, although he is thinking of taking a
year off to earn money for tuition and take a few
classes locally, possibly at Oakland Community
College or Wayne State University. He is consid-
ering studying religious studies, philosophy or
film. He is a big baseball fan and movie buff, and
has even made a short movie•with three of his
close friends. He has four brothers and a stepsis-
ter ranging in age from 4-19 (Benji, Blake, Justin,
Caryn and Adam).
Rabbi Roman spoke of how proud he was when
his stepson was elected. "his professional validation
that someone from our congregation and communi-
ty was recognized by his peers. I was a NFTY
national officer 36 years ago, so it is personally grati-
fying to see it continue in the family." ❑
,nNW
k;
,
3/29
2002
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