Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Regional Board Member Justin Borus shares his fascinating background as a cartoonist, world traveler and head of an investment fund that takes advantage of the amazing innovation and growth that is occurring in Israel. Borus also discusses why ADL’s mission is so important.

 

How did you first become involved in ADL? How are you involved now?

Barry Curtiss-Lusher invited me to be a guest at a couple of board meetings. I found them to be interesting, informative and thought provoking. Plus, the lunches were delicious. When I was invited to join the board of an organization that had a mission I agreed with AND served delicious food, how could I say no?

 

What do you do in your professional life?

I co-founded an investment firm which manages several funds. Our largest fund invests in Israeli companies taking advantage of the amazing innovation and growth that is occurring in Israel. We invest in everything from early stage start-ups to pre-IPO companies to Tel Aviv and NASDAQ listed companies. As long as the companies are Israeli (or have a few fluent Hebrew speakers working for them), they are eligible for our fund.

 

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A professional cartoonist. In college, I started a daily comic strip on sports, dating and relationships called Girls and Sports with another ADL board member, Andrew Feinstein. At first we were in a number of college newspapers. Then we were selected by King Features Syndicate for national syndication. At our peak, we were in over 300 daily newspapers. We were also creating animated cartoons for Fox Sports. Eventually, many of our newspaper clients started going out of business and we had an unfortunate Jessica Simpson incident with Fox Sports. Long story short, it didn’t work out. But it was an amazing 10 years and I don’t regret a moment.

 

Where were you born?  From where do your ancestors hail?

I was born in Denver and my ancestors are from Poland and Russia.  You’d think I’d be better suited for cold weather than I am.

 

What’s your favorite holiday?

Fourth of July. (Sorry, did you mean Jewish holiday?) The Fourth of July has all the essentials of a good holiday: great songs, delicious food, warm weather, parades, a fun color scheme… Really the only thing that’s missing is an entertaining mascot (see Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, a leprechaun, etc.)

 

What’s your favorite food?

I’ve often thought about what my final meal would be if I were on death row. I’d start with the foie gras oysters from Sushi Sasa, then I’d eat a few bacon cheeseburgers from Shake Shack and I’d finish with a red velvet cupcake from Sprinkles (not very kosher, but delicious).

 

What are you reading?

I just read “Thinking Fast and Slow,” by Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman and it was amazing. In the spirit of the ADL, I’d recommend “Call Me By Your Name,” by Andre Aciman. I don’t know a single person who has read it who wouldn’t put it on their all-time top 10 list.

 

What’s a special place you have visited?

I love European cities– places where you can walk around all day and stumble upon great shops, cafés, museums and more. Copenhagen, Berlin and Paris are among my favorites. Really, just find me any old city with a walking street and I’ll be happy.

 

What’s one thing every person should know or experience?

Life rewards people who put themselves in uncomfortable or challenging situations. Some of my most rewarding experiences (both financially and socially) have been by showing up at events or places where I didn’t know a soul and embracing the anxiety that goes along with that.

 

What teacher or class stands out to you the most in your education and why?

My 8th and 9th grade math teacher, Mr. Threlkeld, is one of many teachers I have been fortunate to have who gave me the confidence and skills to think critically about complicated problems. Mr. Threlkeld recently passed away and received condolences from thousands of students and well-wishers. It was just another reminder that you don’t need to make a fortune, be famous or even have a high profile to impact so many lives.

 

What are you passionate about personally? What can’t you stop talking about?

The innovation occurring right now in Israel is staggering. If someone five years ago had told me that I should start an Israel fund, I would have said that was ridiculous. Then, I went on a trip there to visit the “Start-up Nation” and was blown away by how the companies were solving problems that hadn’t been addressed in 50 to 100 years. And it’s not just technology or security companies either. Israel has amazing agriculture, water, medical device, pharmaceutical and consumer products companies as well. I’m excited to see what the next 15 years brings because I think the country is only in the second inning of the “Start-up Nation” story.

 

Where can we find you when you’re not working?

In the park with my kids.

 

What would be impossible for you to give up?

My love of football. I know. I know. It’s taking healthy young men and turning their brains into goo, but I love the strategy and excitement of the game.

 

If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

I’m fortunate to teach a semi-regular class to inner city school kids on the power of compound interest. It’s the closest thing to magic on earth. As Einstein once said, “compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world.”

 

Tell me a story that immediately pops into your mind that was a defining or significant moment for you?

Passion is so infectious. To help pay for the costs of college, I ran a business that was a facebook for students. (Yes, I know, I should have put it online.)  Anyway, I would sell ads to local shops and restaurants. One day, I was trying to get the owner of the local gas station to purchase an ad (why the owner of the only gas station in town would need an ad is another question). At any rate, I loved the facebook and gave the gas station owner my best sales pitch while he pumped gas into a car. He could tell how passionate I was about my facebook and I all but convinced him that his gas sales would double if he only had a quarter page ad in the 100 page facebook. When I was done with my pitch, not only did he buy an ad for the gas station, but the driver of the car he was pumping gas into also purchased an ad for his store. People love it when someone is giving their all. Passion and enthusiasm are contagious.

 

Why do you choose to make a financial investment in ADL?

ADL’s mission isn’t sexy but it’s important. I love the idea of standing up for people who don’t have a voice. Who doesn’t want to fight for the underdog?

 

Complete this sentence: For me, the ADL is …

Only becoming more important in the age of digital media as everyone now has a platform. 99% of these voices are positive and embracing change and equality, but the 1% that is pure negative energy and is motivated to send us backwards as a society needs an organization to hold them accountable. The ADL is that organization.