SEPTEMBER 1 • 2022 | 15

go for Jewish identity.
”
With a background in Jewish
education, she says she was
eager to help bolster opportuni-
ties for Jewish learning, growth
and camaraderie. “Jewish iden-
tity is so important, and Jewish
pride, and being able to speak in
a safe environment; we felt that
was important, too,
” she says.
“I know when I went to
school there wasn’t a place to
turn if there was any antisem-
itism. At least at school now
there is a place to go; there is a
way to find support and under-
standing. That’s a big thing to
me.
”
Bradley Isakson, who attended
high school in Hartland, Mich.,
before attending MSU 2012-
2016 and going on to graduate
work at Johns Hopkins School
of Advanced International
Studies in Washington, D.C.,
got involved with Jewish student
life on campus quickly when
he arrived. He attended Hillel
events, went to Shabbat dinners,
took Hebrew classes and stud-
ied abroad in Israel, in addition
to interning with the Jewish
Studies program.
Coming from Hartland,
where his family was one of
just a few Jewish families in
the area, he says he was glad
to have a welcoming Jewish
community at his fingertips at
MSU. “What was nice about
being at Michigan State and the
Jewish life there — I was able to
get involved in that way I didn’t
really have a chance to growing
up where I did.
”
Though he won’t be able to
attend the 30th anniversary cel-
ebration, he says he’s happy to
see the program continuing to
expand. “I feel like the program
has gotten bigger since the six,
seven years that I was last there,
”
he says. “I know it still provides
that sense of openness, attentive-
ness and sensitivity to issues.
“
And I hope there’ll be a 60th
anniversary I’ll be able to attend
in 30 more years.
”
Dr. Yael Aronoff

Dr. Amy Simon

Ellie Baden

Bradley Isakson

Dan Olsen

Michael and Elaine
Serling

Peter McPherson

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