Brad Sugar

I am a firm believer of Torah Im Derech Eretz. It is impossible to fit into modern society as a practicing Jew without having a firm background in both Judaic and secular studies. I think the ICJA system does a great job of sending the message to students that there are real challenges facing us, and we as educated Jews have a responsibility to tackle them - whether it is in Israel, on a college campus, in the community, or in the world in general. The high standard of academics at ICJA was also crucial because it prepared me to compete in classes with thousands of individuals from across the globe. Personally, I am grateful to ICJA for pushing me to attend a great university such as Michigan. As an undergraduate, I used the knowledge I learned in high school to educate others about my Judaism and love for Israel, and in turn was rewarded by learning about individuals from many backgrounds. While it is always important to be in a Jewish community, there is much to be learned from other races, cultures, and religions as well.

I am eternally grateful that ICJA stressed learning as much Torah as possible and incorporating it into everyday life. Perhaps the most important thing was that I learned to look at simple, everyday things from a Jewish and halachic perspective. I'm also a big supporter of encouraging students in ICJA to go to Israel for a year following high school. I really was not the "yeshiva" type at the end of my senior year, but nonetheless I spent a year in Israel at Yeshivat Mevaseret Zion. That year was probably the most solidifying Jewish experience I will ever have and began my true infatuation and love of Zionism and Israel. Ultimately, Shaina and I plan to move to Israel in the future.

Brad went to University of Michigan and previously worked at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago on the Israel Campus Initiative. At JSU, where Brad is the Chicago director, the goal is to get more Jewish teens attending public high schools to do something Jewish. JSU focuses on making Judaism and Zionism fun and relevant to the majority of Jewish teens (over 70% of whom are educated in the public school system) with a hands-on, innovative approach of engagement within the public school campus itself.

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