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Lately, I’ve been mired in the NBA playoffs, not just watching for the thrill (and my Knicks ups and downs), but because something about it is resonating with me right now. The intensity, the grit, the sense that every possession matters. At the same time, I’ve been thinking a lot about the next mountain JGO has to climb for us to get to the next level.

Sometimes, I feel the weight of that growth. As exciting and rewarding as it is, it can feel hard to overcome-like we’ve built something strong, but scaling the next peak demands a whole new gear.

People often ask me: How has JGO lasted this long? How have we continued to grow despite many friends in the same Jewish nonprofit world fading away? Honestly, it’s nothing groundbreaking. We’ve stayed consistent. We’ve expanded carefully. We’ve built our student, alumni and donor base with patience and intention. And above all, we’ve kept showing up, again and again.

Earlier today, I came across a clip of a 10-year NBA journeyman. He was never an all-star, never the focus of headlines, but somehow carved out a decade-long career in one of the most competitive arenas in the world. When asked how he lasted while more talented players came and went, he said:

“I genuinely believe that playing hard is a skill. I always press full court. I always play to exhaustion. That’s my identity.”

That line stuck with me. Because that’s my identity too.

I’m not taking days off. I’m keeping the full court press on, for JGO, for our students, and for the future of Jewish life on grad campuses.

Rejection? It just means it’s time to work harder. I'm not taking anything for granted. Every win is earned. Every inch of success is celebrated.

In many ways, it mirrors the Jewish story itself, a history not of ease, but of perseverance.

We’ll keep pressing. Full court. All the way.