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Alexander Muss High School in Israel welcomes new president Susan Sacks

A longtime philanthropist and leader, she hopes to continue the semester-abroad program's growth while expanding its programming

Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss) is proud to announce the election of Susan Sacks as its new national president. She takes over for Ron Werner, who held the position for six years. He oversaw the school’s expansion to a second campus and supported it through unprecedented challenges faced during the global pandemic and in the aftermath of the events on Oct. 7.

Jewish National Fund-USA’s premier college-prep, study abroad in Israel experience, Muss blends high-quality, accredited general studies classes with an Israel-studies program that uses the land as a living and breathing classroom. Sacks believes this blended curriculum is crucial for Jewish students to appreciate and understand Jewish peoplehood.

“The one thread that comes through in every Jewish teen engagement study is that immersive experiences are the biggest indicator of Jewish leadership and Zionist engagement later in life,” she said. “Muss has, for 52 years, provided life-changing experiences in Israel where they are in the land, seeing the story for themselves, and creating this lifelong connection between themselves and their heritage.”

With a professional career that includes working as a social worker in public schools and universities and more than 25 years taking on lay leadership roles in various philanthropic organizations, Sacks has always been a passionate advocate for Jewish teens. In addition to Muss, Sacks serves on the board of directors for the Foundation for Jewish Camp, JewishRockRadio.com and Judaism Alive. Previously, she was a previous board member of the Jewish United Fund.

“Most of my lay leader work has been in the teen space, whether it was Jewish camp or youth groups,” she said. “I’ve always put their development at the forefront.”

‘Facing harassment and isolation in schools’

Active with Jewish National Fund-USA for more than 20 years, Sacks joined the Muss board in 2020 as national vice president, where her immediate focus was on student mental health. “My first effort as a Muss lay leader was to say, ‘How are we supporting our students on campus? I was a strong advocate for ensuring that we had social workers on campuses to address the teens’ mental health,’” she said.

Sacks has met with many of the current students and was saddened to hear about the challenges they face in their schools with growing and accepted antisemitic behavior. “I was taken aback by how many of these teens are facing harassment and isolation in their schools, whether public or private and whether urban, suburban or rural,” she said

She is also concerned about the environment Jewish teens face when they arrive on increasingly hostile college campuses. To that end, she understands how Muss can play a significant role in their ability to be prepared and active in combatting antisemitism and pro-Hamas protests while educating students on the truth about Israel.

“I believe that at college campuses now, many of the folks are just uneducated about the situation in the Middle East,” she said. “At Muss, our teens are getting educated and learning the story. We’re equipping them with the information to understand what’s going on, and that is incredibly important. These students are hungry for this experience and want to know how to engage their peers in a meaningful dialogue and not a shouting match.”

Now, as president, Sacks hopes to grow student attendance and increase the number of day school partners, which already include the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Maryland; the Milken Community School in Los Angeles; and the Jewish Leadership Academy in Miami. She also wants to increase the summer programming available to students, tailoring programs to student interests.

“I want to see what teens are interested in, and work in that direction,” she said, noting that Muss has already diversified in recent years by offering an entrepreneurship track and a new Muss Culinary program, teaming up with Jewish National Fund-USA’s Galilee Culinary Institute (GCI by JNF) to let students explore Israel through its cuisine.

Head of School Steve Kutno, Ph.D., praised Werner’s leadership and expressed hope for continued growth under Sacks, saying “I am grateful for the partnership with Ron and the board these last few years, and especially in the shadow of the war. I believe that Susan is taking over during a challenging but hopeful time. I look forward to what we will do together, eventually welcoming thousands of students each year to a Muss program.”

Werner remains chairman of the Muss board, where he will continue to play an active role in the organization. He will also serve as campaign vice president of Jewish National Fund-USA.

“We’ve not only expanded physically but also deepened our commitment to Zionist education and the unique power of ‘Muss Magic’—the magic of using the land of Israel as our classroom to create passionate, informed Jewish leaders,” he said. “I look forward to the leadership of Susan Sacks, who I know will continue to guide Muss to even greater heights. Her dedication and vision will lead us together into the future.”

Spots for the spring 2025 semester are still open. To learn more about Alexander Muss High School in Israel or to register, visit: amhsi.org.

About & contact The Publisher
Alexander Muss High School in Israel is the only pluralist, college-prep, fully accredited program where high school students from the United States and across the globe study abroad together. The Israel-studies curriculum spans Jewish and Israeli history, using the land as the classroom, while our general studies department provides a multitude of classes at various levels.
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