Rabbi in the News
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In remote Madagascar, a new community chooses to be Jewish By Deborah Josefson June 5, 2016 ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar (JTA) — A nascent Jewish community was officially born in Madagascar last month when 121 men, women and children underwent Orthodox conversions on the remote Indian Ocean island nation better known for lemurs, chameleons, dense rain forests and vanilla. |

In 2014, Kulanu has chose to honor Rabbanit Bonita and Rabbi Gerald Sussman, a power couple whose work with Kulanu has had a profound impact on Kulanu communities and on the mission of our organization. In the last four years, Boni and Rabbi Gerald have traveled to India, Cameroon, Nicaragua, and New Guinea on behalf of isolated and emerging Jewish communities. This year alone, they have visited Nicaragua a second time and plan to travel to Madagascar this summer. They are true pioneers and, one might say, holy malachim or messengers on behalf of Judaism. Where there are people who seek to learn about our faith, the Sussmans are there. When a community leader has needed access to Jewish education, they have responded; when a community has looked for Jewish books, a Torah, teachers, the Sussmans are on the front line. Together or separately, they continue to make an impact as they crisscross the world on Kulanu business.
August 9, 2013
New roles for Staten Island rabbi and rebbetzin Gerald and Bonita Sussman
The Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rabbi Gerald Sussman and his wife Bonita (Bonnie) of Temple Emanu-El in Port Richmond are taking on some exciting new roles.
The rabbi is the new volunteer executive director of a group that he helped found, the Union for Traditional Judaism (UTJ). Meanwhile, Rebbetzin Sussman has become a vice president with Kulanu, a non-profit organization that supports emerging Jewish communities in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
New roles for Staten Island rabbi and rebbetzin Gerald and Bonita Sussman
The Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rabbi Gerald Sussman and his wife Bonita (Bonnie) of Temple Emanu-El in Port Richmond are taking on some exciting new roles.
The rabbi is the new volunteer executive director of a group that he helped found, the Union for Traditional Judaism (UTJ). Meanwhile, Rebbetzin Sussman has become a vice president with Kulanu, a non-profit organization that supports emerging Jewish communities in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
August 13, 2013
The Globetrotting Rabbi From Staten Island to the South Pacific, Gerald Sussman seeks out Jews in far-flung places The Jewish Week As Jewish welcoming ceremonies go, the blue-and-white garb, the yarmulkes and Star of David accessories, the singing of “Hatikvah” at the airport were not beyond the pale. But the canoe races, with 40 men in grass skirts chanting and paddling long dugout logs? |
April 12, 2013
Journey to Papua New Guinea FIU News Research expedition opens FIU team to a new world of culture, experiences and ideas Miami. Atlanta. L.A. Sydney. Cairns. Port Moresby. Balimo. The journey took 30 hours in the air. Two exhausting days of travel. There were unexpected fees. Excruciating lines. A frantic sprint to a flight we almost missed. In the beginning, just getting to Papua New Guinea seemed to be the fulfillment of our purpose. |

January 25, 2013
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As more than a month has passed since the massacre of 26 children and adults in Newtown, Conn., the focus both on Staten Island and nationally is on gun control as a potential means of reducing the risk of another senseless tragedy.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As more than a month has passed since the massacre of 26 children and adults in Newtown, Conn., the focus both on Staten Island and nationally is on gun control as a potential means of reducing the risk of another senseless tragedy.
March 8, 2012

November 18, 2010
Project Hospitality Gears Up tp Serve the Community This Holiday Season.
Project Hospitality Gears Up tp Serve the Community This Holiday Season.
Project Hospitality Gears Up To Serve The Community This Holiday Season

Rabbi Sussman was interviewed on New York 1 News about the Mosque controversy.
See what he has to say here
"Community Leaders Say Interfaith Walk Takes On New Meaning"
See what he has to say here
"Community Leaders Say Interfaith Walk Takes On New Meaning"
India Journal- Life with the Bene Ephraim

August 8, 2010
Video and Article
Religious Leaders, Council Members Discuss Prevention Of More Bias Attacks
Video and Article
Religious Leaders, Council Members Discuss Prevention Of More Bias Attacks
More Articles
Oct. 29, 2018
SI live
JCC Star of David Awards to honor four community leaders
Oct. 28, 2018
SI live
Pittsburgh shooting victims honored at Port Richmond candlelight vigil
Oct. 28, 2018
SI live
Armed guards outside Staten Island synagogue, as officials address mass shooting in Pittsburgh
Oct. 18, 2018
SI live
Project Hospitality honors 3 at Harvest Gala.
Oct. 5, 2018
SI live
Meet the 2018 honorees
Dec. 29, 2016
NYTimes
American Jews Divided Over Strain in U.S.-Israel Relations
June 6, 2016
Brandeis Blogs
The Other Side of the World: My Journey to Jewish Madagascar
June 6, 2016
JPOST
A New Community Chooses to be Jewish
Kulunu
Cameroon’s Beth Yeshourun Community Welcomes First Jewish Visitors
August 2014
Kulanu
Developing Judaism in Cote d�Ivoire and Gabon
Kulanu
Bet Din Visits Nicaragua
January 25, 2013
Staten Island Advance
Staten Island's Rabbi Gerald Sussman offers suggestions on gun control
The Jews of Andhra Pradesh: Contesting Caste and Religion in South India by Yulia Egorova, Shahid Perwez - 2013
Discovering Staten Island: A 350th Anniversary Commemorative History By Staten Island 350 Anniversary Committee
Port Richmond
By Phillip Papas, Lori R. Weintrob
October, 2010
Canadian Jewish News
Lost tribe Israel found southern Israel
November 4, 2013
FIU Magazine
Searching for identity in Papua New Guinea and the past
The Jewish Community of Staten Island

Rabbi Sussman wrote the introduction the book "The Jewish Community of Staten Island, New York ."
The book can be purchased at Barnes and Noble