Isaac's Story
#MyYUstory
My family has a bit of a YU legacy. My father was part of the first graduating class at Sy Syms. I had been raised with the Modern Orthodox values of Torah U’Maddah and menschlichkeit. I was intrigued by the opportunity to play Division 3 basketball, while learning with like-minded people.
Playing on the YU Macs basketball team gave me a taste of what it is like to be an ambassador for the Jewish people. We competed like everyone else but we wore yarmulkes and maintained a sense of humility and focus. At the end of the day, it wasn’t just about playing sports, but it was a means for us to convey our values to the world.
I was lucky to get the full exposure to YU’s Judaic studies programs. I was grateful for the flexibility to try different study programs until I found my niche. The shiurim were incredible. After spending a morning learning, I felt accomplished spiritually and intellectually. Rabbi Yosef Blau is a true spiritual mentor and guide mentor.
Today, I work in commercial real estate at Greystone & Co., and I can see how well my YU education prepared me for success. Yeshiva University is more than my alma mater― it is my community and the place where I came to understand you can be a professional leader without having to compromise the Jewish values with which you were raised, including a commitment to serious learning and Jewish observance.