David Suissa is Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of Tribe Media/Jewish Journal, where he has been writing a weekly column on the Jewish world since 2006. In 2015, he was awarded first prize for "Editorial Excellence" by the American Jewish Press Association. Prior to Tribe Media, David was founder and CEO of Suissa Miller Advertising, a marketing firm named “Agency of the Year” by USA Today. He sold his company in 2006 to devote himself full time to his first passion: Israel and the Jewish world. David was born in Casablanca, Morocco, grew up in Montreal, and now lives in Los Angeles with his five children.
This week, Jacob is doing research on the Internet for a little dvar Torah he\’ll be giving at the Etta Israel Shabbaton at Beth Jacob Congregation. Etta Israel is the popular local organization that caters to kids with Down syndrome and other special needs, and it\’s where Jacob studied Judaism every Sunday for seven years.
There\’s a controversy that has bubbled up in the Jewish world today around this question: Is it good for Israel when Jews go public with harsh criticism of Israel?
The service was heartfelt, but it was also unsettling. There was a kind of emotional chaos in the air — almost a reluctance to accept that a beautiful life could be taken away from someone so God-fearing and life-giving.
Jews are no different. Whether male or female, young or old, Ashkenazic or Sephardic, rich or poor, left-wing or right-wing, religious or secular, SUV-driving or Prius-driving, loud or quiet, screenwriter or grant writer, somehow, no matter how good you feel in our own skin, and how much you enjoy your own company, none of us wants to be alone.
It makes you wonder: How many Yaelle and Nouriel Cohens have come to the rescue of fellow Jews over our history? Thanks to people like Yaelle and Nouriel Cohen, we don\’t have to answer that question.
Is Islam a religion of war or of peace? Is it both? How did it start? What are its connections to Judaism?
If you think this column is too religious, wait until you see Jewish Life. If I snorkel into observant Judaism, then it goes deep-sea diving. If this column is \”the hood,\” then Jewish Life is the hood on steroids.
If I were the boss of L.A. Jewry, I\’d make it easier for French Jews to move to Los Angeles. Why? Because many of them would love to live here. And judging from those that have already settled here, they boost the local economy, they enhance our quality of life, and they love their Judaism.
It\’s sexy and titillating to read about people getting kicked out of synagogues, which was the subject of a cover story in this paper a few weeks ago.