Alumni spotlight: Gabe Strauss ’13
Gabe discovered early on that he loved socializing and connecting with people—a strength that’s now at the heart of his career. Today, he puts that passion to work in industrial real estate at Cushman & Wakefield in the Chicagoland area. “I get to meet with interesting people, visit new building sites, and help clients secure space for their businesses,” he said. “I started my professional work at Redwood Logistics as a freight broker and eventually transitioned into real estate. Now I’m where I want to be and excited to see what’s next.”
At the University of Maryland, College Park, Gabe earned his degree in Economics and filled his college years with activity—Meor, Chabad, AEPI, and Tamid. These experiences gave him opportunities to lead, grow, and stay connected to Jewish life while building a network of peers.
He credits Schechter with helping him develop his strong Jewish identity. “When I graduated from Schechter and attended a public high school, I quickly realized how connected I was to the Jewish community I grew up in,” he said. “I don’t think I would have had anywhere close to the same connection toward my Judaism and love for Israel if I hadn’t had Schechter in my life.”
A proud moment for Gabe was pushing himself to take a gap year in Israel, an experience he calls one of his greatest accomplishments. “I was happy that so many of my Schechter friends were also in Israel during that time,” he said. Summers at Habonim Dror’s Camp Tavor also reinforced his Jewish foundation, and he still thinks often about the rhythm of daily t’fillah: “If I think back to every morning at Schechter starting the day off with our davening, I can really see how much of an impact that had on all of us.”
When it comes to teachers who left a mark, Gabe didn’t hesitate: “Huge shoutout to the one and only Tzipporah! Legend is an understatement. And, to all the rest of the teachers who looked out for me during my meshugana days!”
That sense of support still defines Schechter for him today. “I know that I can always lean on my Schechter community, and they can always lean on me,” he said. Those connections remain strong—whether through the friendships he still treasures in Chicago or the shared Jewish identity Schechter helped instill in him.
Outside of work, Gabe keeps busy with the people and passions that matter most—spending time with his Schechter crew in Chicago, playing pickleball or tennis, and cooking. Asked what advice he’d give his younger self, he laughed: “Focus a little harder in Hebrew class!”
