Board Member Profile: Mickey Elfenbein

Please tell us about your family, your history in Minnesota, and when you joined Bet Shalom. 

I grew up on a small farm in Southern Saskatchewan in Canada. It was the remnant of a once thriving Jewish farm community, “Sonnenfeld Colony” that got its start in the early 1900s. We never had electricity in the farmhouse until I was 12 years old, and no telephone or running water. Our family moved to Winnipeg when I was 14, where I completed high school and attended the University of Manitoba, earning a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree. In my mid 20s I was transferred to Minneapolis by my employer, K-tel International. It was to be a 6-month assignment, but I never returned to Winnipeg as a full-time resident. 

In 2003 when my prior wife, our daughter and I returned to Maple Grove from a 2-year stay in Atlanta, my daughter was 5 years old. We searched for a religious environment that would work for us and where my daughter could attend religious school, so we joined Bet Shalom. My daughter went on to be a very active long-term member of BeSTY and NFTY, attended OSRUI for several years and had her bat mitzvah at Bet Shalom.

In 2018 Rabbi Locketz performed a marriage ceremony for my now wife, Sue, and me. We live in Maple Grove with our Collie, Finley. The older we get the less we like cold weather, so we now spend about 2.5 months in Florida to escape the winter cold. My son Mark and grandson Zach live in Plymouth. Mark is the Chief Revenue Officer for his company. Zach has just been admitted to the University of Minnesota School of Engineering starting this September. Zach is an avid hockey player. My daughter Ari recently graduated top 10% from the Wake Forest School of Medicine as a PA. She now works full-time as a PA at the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital in the Trauma Department.

And your professional life?

I have had essentially two distinct careers in very different activities. 

When I graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Commerce Degree, I joined K-tel International on a full-time basis in Winnipeg. The primary business of K-tel was the licensing, manufacture and distribution of compilation music products like CDs, and marketing special interest DVDs and movies. The company at that time had a burgeoning business in the US and other countries. I was asked to go to Minneapolis for six months to help manage the US business. I never went back to Winnipeg. 

Eventually I was the CEO managing a $100 million business operating in countries that stretched from Australia to Finland. That responsibility allowed me to travel the world. Around 2000 that industry effectively came to an end as technology provided alternate distribution methods and consumer buying habits changed, so I left the industry.

Since that time, I have been involved in the Insurance/Financial Services business.  I set up a Life & Health and Property & Casualty brokerage, Armar Insurance Agency, LLC, named after my two children Ari and Mark. In 2023 the 3,000 client Property and Casualty book of business and two California offices were sold. At this time my focus is on a very specialized financial service called Fixed Indexed Annuities. Since I am now licensed across the country, our clients are located everywhere, and I primarily meet them virtually.

Tell us about your previous involvement at Bet Shalom. 

I began ushering before COVID. I enjoyed meeting the congregants and wanted to get more involved. I was asked to join the Finance Committee and have been a member of that committee for several years. A couple of years ago I was fortunately able to introduce the federal Employee Retention Credit program to Bet Shalom which resulted in a large financial infusion.

And now you’re on the Bet Shalom Board of Trustees. What has your experience been like?

This is my fifth year as a Board Trustee. I have enjoyed making new acquaintances on the Board. As issues have arisen, I have been willing to have my voice heard regarding Bet Shalom. 

What do you do in your spare time?

I don’t have a lot of spare time. In addition to my full-time work, the Finance Committee and being a Board Trustee, I am involved in several other activities. 

We are members of three of the Bet Shalom small groups- Wine Club, Bird Watching and Business Networking. I think these small groups play a very important part in building “Community.” We have made some very good friends through these activities that would not have been possible if our involvement had been limited to temple services.  

I am also the Chairman of the Bet Shalom Revenue Task Force. So far, we have held two successful events. The first was the Beatles Music night and the second was the Night of Laughs in November. We would like to have a couple more members volunteer for that committee. 

I am also the President of our HOA. That does take quite a bit of time managing the HOA requirements, negotiating vendor terms, and following up on their work.

We like to travel and in 2024 spent time in Clear Lake, IA, Venice, FL, Winston-Salem, NC, Iceland, Italy and Winnipeg.

Favorite Jewish Holiday and foods?

I think my favorite Jewish holiday is Passover since it brings family together. Some of my favorite foods are gefilte fish with horse radish, chicken soup with a matzah ball, brisket, matzah (which I eat year-round), challah and sweet kugel. Unfortunately, I like all the foods!

Final thoughts?

Through the Bet Shalom small groups, we have finally made some new friendships with Bet Shalom members and developed a feeling of community. Bet Shalom has provided a very welcoming environment for my wife and me!