Judah Marcus has sterling credentials as a Jewish Link SuperFan that few others can rival.
Marcus, who lives with his mother, father, sister and brother in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, is currently a 10th grader at Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School (RKYHS) in Livingston. Since he started attending a Jewish day school in fourth grade, he’s truly immersed himself in Jewish life, and his strong connection to Yiddishkeit and the Jewish community makes him an ideal ambassador for the finest qualities of The Jewish Link.
Marcus is very active at his yeshiva, serving as a part of the Jewish Life Committee and in academic clubs like the school’s yearbook, newspaper and AIPAC chapter. Outside of school, Judah plays tennis, the piano, likes to cook and bake and is a part of his local CTeen youth group at the Chabad of Basking Ridge. For the past six summers, Judah attended Camp Ramah in the Poconos.
Marcus is also a second generation Jewish Link SuperFan, as his mother, Debbie, was highlighted as a SuperFan in the January 28, 2021 issue. Judah’s unique status as a second generation SuperFan means that his passion for the paper is in his blood.
The Jewish Link caught up with him earlier this month and asked him a few questions about his relationship with the newspaper.
1. Do you read The Jewish Link every week?
Yes, as long as I’m home.
2. What are your favorite sections of the paper?
I love the dvar Torah section (especially Rabbis Sacks and Taragin), and the political articles.
3. How do you interact with the paper?
I am the representative of my family who picks up two copies of The Jewish Link every Friday at school (because there’s always more than one family member who wants to read it at once), and in my family we often read Mordechai Schmutter’s humor article aloud at our Shabbat table. I also like doing the crossword puzzle with my mom, as she fills in my gap of knowledge of pop culture references from before my time.
4. What does the paper mean to you?
To me, the paper is my way of connecting with the expansive Jewish community that geographically, I might not normally be involved in. I live in Basking Ridge, in Somerset County, so while attending Kushner is a step forward in my connection to the larger Jewish world, reading The Jewish Link keeps me in the know regarding the local Jewish world.
5. Has the paper made a difference in your life?
The paper definitely helps me get through the long Shabbatot, but actually, given that this is the primary physical newspaper that I read, it’s benefitted me to read about different perspectives on “hot” Jewish issues, especially recently with the pandemic. I’ve practiced the important skills of being open to dissenting opinions and giving others the benefit of the doubt, from reading The Jewish Link.
By Harry Glazer
