Robert A. Cumins
Mandell “Bill” Berman » 1917-2016
continued from page 11
A Man For The People
one, he might write you a check as
well), a dose of history and a good
story about some of the commu-
nity’s more colorful personalities.
A visit to Bill was essential prior
to starting many Jewish News
initiatives, including the launch of
the independent nonprofit Detroit
Jewish News Foundation.
Bill was uniquely capable of
connecting our Jewish communi-
ty’s past and present to its future.
He was a 99-year-old visionary,
always attuned to demographic
trends and changing needs —
challenging existing organiza-
tions to re-invent themselves and
encouraging new entities to fill
the voids he detected. For Bill,
investing in various models of
formal and informal Jewish educa-
ill Berman was a giant in
tion was the best way to assure
business, philanthropy and
the continuance of a vibrant and
communal service, but was never
vital American Jewish community.
too big to walk among the legions
In the June 15, 1945, edition
of everyday people whose lives he of the Jewish News, a letter Bill
touched.
sent to his parents was
You could find Bill get-
published under the
ting dirty with preschool
headline “Lt. Berman
children and their par-
Sees Jewish Faith High
ents partaking in hands-
on Okinawa.” In the letter,
on Jewish family educa-
Bill noted the pessimism
tion programs that he
that existed back home
pioneered with Harlene
about the future of Jewry
Appelman at his beloved
in America. After observ-
Congregation Shaarey
ing the religious spirit of
Arthur
Zedek.
his fellow Jews, who had
Horwitz
You could find Bill
braved a rainstorm to
engaged in animated
cram into a small tent for
conversation over lunch with a
the Shabbat Shavouth services,
group of Wayne State University
he said:
students who, short on funds and
“The men by their attitude and
just a handful of credits shy of
demeanor charged that tent with a
graduation, received a quiet finan- religious spirit that I have never seen
cial boost from him to complete
in civilian life. These men didn’t have
their studies.
to walk, hitch or ride a boat to that
You could find Bill — in an ear-
tent in the rain. No one urged them
lier era — leading volunteers at
to come.
a converted Velvet peanut butter
“If ever I believed that Judaism
facility as they sorted mounds of
would die with this second and third
donated clothing intended for
generation in the U.S., I was wrong.
World War II refugees. This, mind
Right now, in their hearts these men
you, from a man who had recently are better Jews than 50 percent
completed his service to America
of the Jews (older men) I know at
as a naval officer stationed at
home …
Okinawa.
“I’m going to write Rabbi
Wherever people gathered, if
Hershman soon and … show him
the cause was worthy, odds are
that his faith in the staying power
you would find Bill.
of Judaism is at least justified out
But because of his unique blend here.”
of intelligence, humor, candor,
We have Bill Berman to thank
Jewish communal perspective and for a lifetime dedicated to
wisdom, you would also seek Bill.
enhancing the “staying power” of
His door was always open to those American Jewry for future genera-
in search of guidance, validation
tions. Rabbi Hershman would be
of an idea (and if it was a good
proud.
B
*
Council of Jewish Federations President Bill Berman jokes with New York Gov. Mario Cuomo
during a conference in 1988.
and New York. Berman was president of
Smokler and Dreyfus Development Corp.
from 1969-1975.
He also served on the board of Guardian
Industries, as chairman of the Michigan
State Housing Development Authority and
as president of the Southeastern Michigan
Builders Association.
One of Bill’s longtime friends, Mort
Harris of West Bloomfield, recalls being
involved with him in one of his more
unusual business ventures.
“He called me and said, ‘We’re going to
buy a fleet of 500 trucks in Poland!’ And we
did. It turned out to be a pretty good deal.
The trucks delivered merchandise through-
out Europe — from France to Russia. Then
we sold them; that was an even better deal.”
Last week, Harris, 96, talked about his
best friend and business partner for more
than 35 years.
“Bill was one of the finest people I’ve
ever met,” Harris said. “We never had an
angry word pass between us. Working with
Bill has been a wonderful experience. He
loved to laugh, and we always had some
humor pass between us, and we never took
anything too seriously. We spoke every day,
first regarding business and then to discuss
our aches and pains.”
Harris spoke to Bill the night before he
died. Bill had invited him to join him in
Florida, and he was planning to do so.
SHAAREY ZEDEK TIES
“Bill was a shul boy,” Congregation Shaarey
Zedek Rabbi Aaron Starr said of the long-
time synagogue member.
Bill said his father had been involved in
Shaarey Zedek since the 1890s. Bill has kept
the strong connection.
Starr said, “Bill held nearly every lead-
ership position at Shaarey Zedek, except
president, because he left the board early to
become president of the Jewish Federation.
Several years ago, CSZ made Bill ‘honorary
president for life.’
“Bill would often add there was one more
position denied to him at Shaarey Zedek,
but he couldn’t understand why. Apparently,
despite the volume of his singing, no one
ever invited Bill to be part of the Shaarey
Zedek choir.
“When Rabbi Morris Adler asked Bill
to lead the construction of the new syna-
gogue building in Southfield, Bill, of course,
agreed,” Starr said. “However, Bill made
sure to tell the rabbi he built a trap door
into the bimah. If Rabbi Adler’s sermons
ever crossed the 18-minute mark, the trap
doors would open and he would fall in.”
Starr also talked about why there was
stained glass at the top of the back of the
sanctuary. The rabbi asked Bill to place it
there. “Everyone else gets this beautiful
view,” Rabbi Adler chided Bill, “shouldn’t I
have one, too?”
Bill’s passion for Shaarey Zedek contin-
ued throughout his lifetime. In 2004, he
was the honoree for the synagogue’s inau-
gural Annual Dinner. Bill was a regular at
Shabbat services, and every year he asked
to speak on the Shabbat nearest his birth-
day, as he did recently for his 99th birthday.
“His remarks were a highlight every year,
and we looked on with awe as he bounded
up the steps to ascend the bimah that he
built,” Starr said.
“We will all remember his stories, his wit
and his wisdom. We will also remember the
joy he exhibited in living life to its fullest,
in caring for others, and in sustaining and
strengthening the Jewish people.”
DATABASED DECISIONS
Bill Berman had a unique interest in data.
The hard information he gleaned informed
his decisions, drove his philanthropy and
helped him play a major role in shaping the
future of the Jewish community locally and
nationally.
“I’m the only Jewish philanthropist who
has a real interest in Jewish data, and the
storage, dissemination and preservation
of that data,” Bill told the New York Jewish
Week in 2009. “I’m particularly interested in
continued on page 14
12 December 29 • 2016