# Mandell Berman

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**Mandell "Bill" Berman** (1917–2016) was the businessman (housing construction industry) and philanthropist behind the [Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Foundation](/source/Mandell_L._and_Madeleine_H._Berman_Foundation),[2] which supports [Jewish education](/source/Jewish_education), and research and study of the contemporary [American Jewish community](/source/American_Jewish_community). His philanthropic focus was on the storage, dissemination, and preservation of Jewish data, as well as Jewish education and special education.[3]

## Biography

Berman was born (1917) and grew up in Detroit, Michigan, one of four siblings. His mother was from [Toledo, OH](/source/Toledo,_OH), descended of Eastern European Jewish immigrants. His father immigrated from [Poland](/source/Poland) at a young age, and with a grade school education, served in the American Army as an officer and worked as a successful businessman. Berman was raised in a religiously traditional home but was allowed to spend money and travel on [shabbat](/source/Shabbat) to get to [Hebrew school](/source/Hebrew_school) and religious services. He married Madge, née Madeleine Brodie, in 1950. They have two children and three grandchildren.[2][4][5]

## Education

Berman attended Detroit Central High School and Shaarey Tzedek High School. He briefly attended the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan), but then completed his undergraduate studies at [Harvard College](/source/Harvard_College) in 1940 graduating Magna Cum Laude, and graduated Harvard Business School in 1942. In 2011, he received an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.[2][6]

## Career

Past:

- President: Bert L. Smokler & Company (1946–1975), Dreyfus Development Corporation (1969–19872), South Eastern Michigan Builders Association
- Partner: Bert L. Smokler & Company (1946–1975)
- Chairman of the Skillman Foundation
- Chairman: Board of Trustees of the Michigan State Housing Finance Authority, Supervisory Board of Euroad
- Board member: Dreyfus Corporation (NYSE), Guardian Industries (NYSE), Lennar Corporation (NYSE)

Berman also served 4 years in the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy), including a posting in Okinawa.

[2][5]

## Philanthropic work

### Selected supported projects

- [The Berman Jewish Policy Archive @ Stanford University](/source/Berman_Jewish_Policy_Archive_@_NYU_Wagner) [(BJPA)](http://bjpa.org)[7][8]
- [The North American Jewish Data Bank](http://jewishdatabank.org) (NAJDB)[9]
- [The Inter Agency Task Force on Israeli-Arab Issues](http://www.iataskforce.org/) (IATF)[10]
- [The Jewish Historical Society of Michigan](http://www.michjewishhistory.org/)[11]
- [The Berman Center](https://web.archive.org/web/20110216034813/http://www.jesna.org/program-centers/berman-center/staff/itemlist/category/25-berman-center) of the [Jewish Educational Service of North America](/source/JESNA) (JESNA) (of which he was also the co-founder)[2]
- The Mandell Berman Fellowship Program at [Brandeis University](/source/Brandeis_University)'s [Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies](http://www.brandeis.edu/cmjs/index.html)
- The [[https://web.archive.org/web/20110725194947/http://www.contemporaryjewry.org/resources/Berman_Fellowship.doc](https://web.archive.org/web/20110725194947/http://www.contemporaryjewry.org/resources/Berman_Fellowship.doc) Mandell L. Berman Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Contemporary American Jewish Life at the Frankel Center at the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan).
- [Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute](http://brookdale.jdc.org.il/)’s Center for Research on Disabilities' Mandell Berman Fund for Research on Children with Disabilities, 1999.
- The [1990 and 2000–2001 National Jewish Population Surveys](http://www.jewishdatabank.org/national.asp)
- The 2009 study on Jewish mobility.[2][3]
- Berman fellowship (since 2006) at the [William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education](/source/Jewish_Theological_Seminary_of_America#William_Davidson_Graduate_School_of_Jewish_Education).
- [Jewish Communal Leadership Program](http://www.ssw.umich.edu/programs/jclp/) at the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan)'s School of Social Work
- Mandell L. Berman Center (1988) and Berman Fellowships (since 1997), at the [University of Michigan Hillel](https://web.archive.org/web/20010202063600/http://www.umhillel.org/)
- The Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Award for Outstanding Professional Service to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and its agencies.
- The Detroit Symphony Orchestra[12]
- The Berman Center for the Performing Arts (2011) at the Jewish Community Center, Detroit
- Michigan Humane Society – The Berman Center for Animal Care in Westland
- The Berman Center for Jewish Education at Congregation Shaarey Zedek
- and many more, both in and outside of the Jewish community

[2][6][13][14][15][16]

### Positions held

- President: Council of Jewish Federations (now the [Jewish Federations of North America](/source/Jewish_Federations_of_North_America)) (1987–1990), Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Detroit Jewish Welfare Federation, United Hebrew Schools of Detroit (1962–1995)
- Chairman: [JESNA](/source/JESNA) (Jewish Education Service of North America) Berman Research and Evaluation Center, Volunteer and Professional Leadership Biographies, National Jewish Population Survey 2000–01[17] AAJE (predecessor of [JESNA](/source/JESNA)),[18] National Jewish Population Survey, Board of Overseers and executive committee of the Board of Overseers of the JCPA ([Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs](/source/Jerusalem_Center_for_Public_Affairs)), Skillman Foundation, Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Detroit Jewish Welfare Federation, United Hebrew Schools of Detroit
- Honorary chairman: University of Michigan Hillel, [JESNA](/source/JESNA) (Jewish Education Service of North America)
- Founder: Metropolitan Detroit Jewish Welfare Federation, United Hebrew Schools (1959–1962), Jewish Historical Society of Michigan (1969)
- Member of the Board: Overseers of the [William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education](/source/Jewish_Theological_Seminary_of_America#William_Davidson_Graduate_School_of_Jewish_Education) (since 1996), [American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee](/source/American_Jewish_Joint_Distribution_Committee), [United Israel Appeal](/source/United_Israel_Appeal), the [Jewish Agency for Israel](/source/Jewish_Agency_for_Israel), Skillman Foundation, World Zionist Education Authority, [United Way](/source/United_Way_of_America), Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Detroit Jewish Welfare Federation, [HIAS](/source/HIAS) (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society),[19] [JDC](/source/American_Jewish_Joint_Distribution_Committee) (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee),[19] [UIA](/source/United_Israel_Appeal) (United Israel Appeal)[2]
- Fellow of the [American Academy of Arts and Sciences](/source/American_Academy_of_Arts_and_Sciences)

[3][17][19][20][21]

## Awards

- [Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry](/source/Association_for_the_Social_Scientific_Study_of_Jewry) first Lifetime Achievement award for his support of the study of the [North American Jewish community](/source/American_Jews), December 19, 2010.[22]
- [Jewish Historical Society of Michigan](http://www.michjewishhistory.org/) Leonard N. Simons History Award, 2009[20]
- Mesorah Award for Outstanding Leadership in Jewish Education, [JESNA](/source/JESNA) (Jewish Education Service of North America), 1992[17]
- [Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit](http://www.thisisfederation.org/) Butzel Award, 1978[6]
- Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

## References

1. Welch, Sherri (December 21, 2016). ["Developer, philanthropist Mandell 'Bill' Berman dies at 99"](http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20161221/NEWS/161229958/developer-philanthropist-mandell-bill-berman-dies-at-99). *Crain's Detroit Business*. Retrieved 11 February 2017.

1. McGinity, Keren. [Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry Lifetime Achievement Award Announcement](http://www.contemporaryjewry.org/28.html), December 19, 2010

1. [A Philanthropist Crunches The Numbers](http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/philanthropist_crunches_numbers), Tamar Snyder, New York Jewish Week, November 25, 2009

1. [Speech](https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-HNGeBGulDFYzc3MmQ2OWQtMjYwMC00YjMzLTg5ZmMtNGE2YjA4Mzg4YjM2&sort=name&layout=list&num=50), on reception of the [Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry](http://www.contemporaryjewry.org/)'s first Berman award, December 19, 2011

1. [Interview with Mandell Berman](http://www.ajspirit.com/PDFs/MIFall08.pdf), Detroit Jewish Spirit: the Aish Detroit Community Magazine, Fall 2008

1. Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit [Annual Report 2003-2004](http://www.jewishdetroit.org/downloads/jfmd-ujf_03-04.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110726202857/http://www.jewishdetroit.org/downloads/jfmd-ujf_03-04.pdf) July 26, 2011 at the Wayback Machine

1. [The Berman Jewish Policy Archive @ NYU Wagner](http://bjpa.org/About/index.cfm)

1. [Berman Jewish Policy Archive @ NYU Wagner](/source/Berman_Jewish_Policy_Archive_@_NYU_Wagner)

1. [North American Jewish Data Bank](http://www.jewishdatabank.org/mission.asp)

1. [Inter Agency Task Force on Israeli-Arab Issues](http://www.iataskforce.org/members/mandell-l-and-madeleine-h-berman-foundation) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110726164530/http://www.iataskforce.org/members/mandell-l-and-madeleine-h-berman-foundation) July 26, 2011 at the Wayback Machine

1. [Life Members – Membership/Donations](http://www.michjewishhistory.org/lifeMembers.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110725174926/http://www.michjewishhistory.org/lifeMembers.php) July 25, 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. Retrieved February 2, 2011

1. [DSO Annual Meeting](http://blog.detroitsymphony.com/2010/12/)[dead link], Detroit Symphony Orchestra Blog, December 9, 2010

1. [Frankely Speaking](http://www.lsa.umich.edu/judaic/pdfs/Frankely_Speaking_April_2008.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120321170829/http://www.lsa.umich.edu/judaic/pdfs/Frankely_Speaking_April_2008.pdf) March 21, 2012 at the Wayback Machine. [Jean and Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies](http://www.lsa.umich.edu/judaic/) at the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan), April 2008.

1. [Our History](https://web.archive.org/web/20100225235633/http://www.umhillel.org/index.php?page=tboard), University of Michigan Hillel

1. [Honor Roll of Donors](http://www.perlmanmusicprogram.org/support-us/our-supporters/honor-roll-of-donors/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20101224173810/http://www.perlmanmusicprogram.org/support-us/our-supporters/honor-roll-of-donors/) December 24, 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Perlman Music Program

1. [Donors](http://www.perlmanmusicprogram.org/support-us/our-supporters/honor-roll-of-donors/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20101224173810/http://www.perlmanmusicprogram.org/support-us/our-supporters/honor-roll-of-donors/) December 24, 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Artserve

1. [History of the Berman Center](http://www.jesna.org/about-us/item/602-history-of-the-berman-center) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20101118094158/https://jesna.org/about-us/item/602-history-of-the-berman-center) November 18, 2010 at the Wayback Machine, JESNA

1. [Volunteer and Professional Leadership Biographies](http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=33826) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120319173536/http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=33826) March 19, 2012 at the Wayback Machine, JESNA National Jewish Population Survey 2000–01

1. [Confronting the Future of the Jewish People](http://www.jcpa.org/jcig695.htm) Iggeret Newsletter, June 1995

1. [Press Release](http://michjewishhistory.org/fromhaventohome/bermanrelease.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110727082321/http://michjewishhistory.org/fromhaventohome/bermanrelease.pdf) July 27, 2011 at the Wayback Machine, [Jewish Historical Society of Michigan](http://www.michjewishhistory.org/), May 5, 2009.

1. [Board of Trustees](https://web.archive.org/web/20100225235633/http://www.umhillel.org/index.php?page=tboard), University of Michigan Hillel

1. [Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry Lifetime Achievement Award](http://www.contemporaryjewry.org/28.html), December 19, 2010

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mandell Berman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandell_Berman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandell_Berman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.