David Suissa Embodies Jewish Unity

From VirtualJerusalem.com

David Suissa, one of LA’s most prominent Jewish personalities was honored at the Night of Unity

Gala on Wednesday night where he received the first ever Jewish Unity Award. Suissa, an accomplished advertising executive and a popular LA Jewish Journal Columnist is well known for his philanthropic work. His accomplishments include the founding of OLAM magazine, Meals4Israel.com, Ads4Israel.com and the newly re-launched OLAM.org.

Suissa was honored this week for he is the embodiment of Jewish unity. He often speaks about a multitude of topics that relate to Jews and Israel and in doing so brings together people from various backgrounds and nationalities with seemingly nothing in common. The gala Wednesday evening was living proof of his success. Multitudes of people from all walks of life showed up for a night of music, magic and to see incredible performers like Matisyahu and the Moshav band take the stage.

Speakers took the floor and spoke with great admiration not only about Mr. Suissa and his impressive accomplishments, but also about his warmth, enthusiasm and his love for all Jews.

David Sacks, a prominent Hollywood writer and producer and the founder of the Happy Minyan gave a heartfelt talk that captivated the audience. “The Torah is infinite and eternal and it takes very very special people to communicate it. In every single generation, people have to express in the language of that generation the infinity and the eternalness of the Torah. David Suissa, Reb Yonah, Matisyahu… these are these people. ”

Rabbi Yonah, creator of the Jewlicious Festival who himself has a most impressive resume, also spoke several times throughout the night about his friend. Upon introducing Suissa, he recalled with great emotion the first time they met. The rabbi spoke about David’s unconditional love for people and the acceptance and support that he provides so many in the Jewish community. He emphasized that upon meeting David Suissa, you can truly see the love he has for every Jew.

It is undeniably a great accomplishment to see what was once a vision, unfold into reality before your very eyes. As he took the stage, the embodiment of David Suissa’s vision for the Jewish community came alive in Los Angeles. Hundreds of people were gathered in a room with only two things in common: Judaism, and they were there to honor David.

Being in a room with the founders of these imperative Jewish organizations is mind blowing when you stop to think about it.

Jconnect LA, Jewlicious, David Suissa… this is an incredible group of people that has strengthened and embraced Jews of every shape and size and level of observance.

In a time where assimilation is a very clear and present danger and wars are raging between the religious and secular in Israel, Suissa is a voice in the darkness that points the way for all of us with words of simple truth. “If there is anything I have learned on this journey… of Jewish unity… is to receive someone. Look for someone who is not like you and be open to receiving something new.”

by T. Litvin