The Berman Archive owes its name, founding funds, and ongoing support to the late Mandell “Bill” Berman z’l. Bill was a businessman, philanthropist, and longtime supporter of Jewish communal organizations. His unique interest in the power of data and knowledge led to his initial and ongoing support of the Berman Archive (originally the Berman Jewish Policy Archive). Bill funded research, evaluation, and informed policy making through The Jewish Federations of North America, The North American Jewish Data Bank, The Berman Archive, the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, the Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA), and the University of Michigan.
His unique interest in the power of data and knowledge led to his initial and ongoing support of the Berman Archive (originally the Berman Jewish Policy Archive).
As a communal leader, Bill served on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Council of Jewish Federations, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, United Israel Appeal, JESNA, the Jewish Agency, the World Zionist Education Authority, and the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. He was a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The Mandell and Madeleine Berman Foundation has built on the family legacy of investing in institutions that bridge the gap between Jewish research and policy and work to strengthen Jewish life. Beyond the American Jewish community, the Foundation focuses on enhancing career opportunities for Arab citizens of Israel and supports the educational, employment, arts, animal rescue and hunger relief organizations and institutions of Detroit.
