Mike Levey is among the Annual Campaign volunteers who are working tirelessly to help raise dollars for the community campaign, and some of his involvement is with the Business and Professional Network (BPN) and its local society for attorneys.
Levey has been actively involved as a volunteer in Milwaukee Jewish Federation campaigns for about 40 years. He’s the current co-chair, with Tamar Kelber, of the Cardozo (Attorney) division of the Business and Professional Network.
The Business and Professional Network is an affinity giving society within the Milwaukee Jewish Federation that connects professionals across industries through networking, leadership development and philanthropy by fostering meaningful relationships. Business and Professional Network members support the Jewish community locally and globally while advancing their professional growth and building stronger connections with one another.
“Milwaukee is a great place, a great city to raise a family,” Levey said. He said he knows we’ve heard this before, but it’s true: “The local Jewish community is a wonderful, supporting community.”
Levey moved to Milwaukee to join the Charne, Glassner law firm in 1983. He met his wife, Linda Gorens-Levey, through mutual friends in 1985 and joined the Quarles & Brady law firm in 1991. In addition to being active in the annual campaigns, he has served on the Board of Trustees of Congregation Shalom and the Board of Directors of the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center.
When it comes to supporting our local Jewish community, Levey’s perspective is that if we (as Jews) don’t do it, who will? He noted the famous quote from the Mishnah: “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
Growing up in Flint, Michigan, Levey said he did not experience antisemitism. “I think what we’ve experienced over the past few years, or at least what I’ve learned, is that antisemitism is sometimes in check, but often it can bubble to the surface,” he said. He is quite concerned about the recent widespread rise of visible antisemitism.
Levey noted, “I think the importance of the Annual Campaign is to coordinate support not only for the Jewish organizations that you’re most interested in, but the broader Jewish community of all organizations, because we need to support the greater Jewish community.”
Levey also sees being involved with the Annual Campaign as an important way to honor those who have come before us, including his own parents who were very active in the Flint Jewish community.
About The Business and Professional Network
The Business and Professional Network is comprised of several divisions based on one’s profession, including healthcare (Maimonides society), legal (Cardozo society), real estate, and general business.
The BPN Council under the leadership of Jamie Miller, BPN’s Chair and Ryan Woloshin, BPN’s professional staffer are increasingly working to showcase the Business and Professional Network – including its Cardozo (Attorney) society– as a way to get involved with the work of MJF, beyond the mitzvah of donating to the annual campaign. The experience is intended to inspire and steward leadership for the greater Jewish community while connecting with others and building a professional network.
“Being a lawyer in most situations is representing a client. It’s often adversarial,” Levey said. “Getting involved in something where everybody has a common goal, a common objective – it’s collaborative, it’s supportive.
“It’s wonderful to be part of an organization like MJF where we can support each other and the community together, where we can do much more than we can individually. I think it’s something you can feel great comfort and pride in being involved with and also meet people who will become friends and colleagues. You may wind up working with them or being averse to them, but you’ll have a bond that you otherwise may not have.”
* * *
For more information about the Business and Professional Network of Milwaukee Jewish Federation, contact Ryan Woloshin, Director – Business & Professional Network and Corporate Partnerships, at 414-390-5774 or RyanW@MilwaukeeJewish.org.
Loading ...