OyChicago articles

Allyson, socializing

Cleveland native Allyson Becker moved to Chicago to become a professional Jew after graduating from Ohio State in 2002. After four years working at the Jewish Federation, Allyson joined up with the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, a non-profit committed to the well being of Israel’s soldiers. Funds from the FIDF are used to build mobile gyms, synagogues and libraries on military bases, provide care packages and fund academic scholarship for ex-combat soldiers.

So whether you’re a fellow sushi junkie, a Buckeye fan or a friend of the IDF, Allyson Becker is a Jew you should know!

1. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I had no idea at all until my junior year of college when I had an internship in the development department at Hillel. When I was little, I was just very social and in second grade my teacher told my mom that I was too much of a social butterfly. But, it turns out that has helped me in my career.

2. What do you love about what you do today?
I feel like a lot of times we get bogged down with the day to day things, but we have soldiers in town once a month and it really grounds me when they are here talking with us and sharing their stories and I realize all the more why what I do is so important.

3. What are you reading?
Essentially, the only thing I have been reading for the last month is various proofs of our tribute book for next week’s gala!

4. What’s your favorite place to eat in Chicago?
Anyone that knows me well—or really anyone who knows me at all—could answer this question! I order form Sushi Naniwa on Ohio so often that they have my card on file. The crunch role is the best; I am telling you it’s the best sushi in the city.

5. If money and logistical reality played no part, what would you invent?
A time machine to take me back to college when life was way more simple. I have college on the brain today!

6. Would you rather have the ability to fly or the ability to be invisible?
I’d love to fly and be able to see places that I wouldn’t usually get to visit.

7. If I scrolled through your iPod, what guilty pleasure would I find?
I was on the elliptical this morning and an old-school Puffy song came on from my freshman year of college—he went by Puffy then for sure!

8. What’s your favorite Jewish thing to do in Chicago – in other words, how do you Jew?
Attend FIDF Young Leadership events of course!

Get your Jew on with Allyson next Saturday at the  FIDF’s Annual Gala !