Assaf Grumberg

Assaf Grumberg is not afraid to answer complex questions about Israel. Dedicated to bridging his homeland of Israel and the Jewish community in Chicago, Assaf works for StandWithUs, providing college students and community members with accurate information on Israel. He also established the Chicago Israel Student Council with the help of JUF's Israel Education Center and leads monthly meetings with students to discuss their pro-Israel work on campus and in the community -- no small task in the face of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. He makes himself available 24/7 to discuss anti-Israel issues and strategies to combat them.

Assaf also looks for other opportunities to connect Chicago to Israeli culture. He previously chaired the Chicago Hebrew Book Fair and in 2014 was a JCC Chicago PresenTense Fellow whose project focused on bringing an Israeli coffee franchise to Chicago.

Age:

31

Primary gig:

Central Region Campus Director at StandWithUs

On the side:

JCC PresenTense alumni, bar/bat mitzvah tutor and an ordained minister

Relationship status:

Married

Describe yourself in 10 words or less:

The guy everyone talks about Israel with at a party.

How do you Jew in Chicago?

Seven months ago, my father passed away unexpectedly. Coping with his death taught me about the importance of Jewish family values and the importance of having a strong and supportive Jewish community. Finding that I have many questions, I began meeting with rabbis in my neighborhood and I could not be more grateful for Rabbi Doug Zelden and Rabbi Josh Marder for their love and care. Spending Shabbat dinner with family and friends has become a significant ritual. My love for good food has sent me on a kosher restaurant tour to find the best kosher dish in Chicago.

If time and money were limitless, I would:

Live in different countries for enough time to allow me to see its culture through the eyes of the locals.