Who is David?

David Sussman arrived in Israel in Aug of 2001 and fell in love with country immediately. He began to work for a night club on the beach in Tel Aviv called Mike’s Place. Although undecided at first about making aliyah, (to obtain citizenship) he decided that during the trying times of Palestinian Terrorism it would be unfair to his Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel for him to pack up and leave.

On April 30th 2003 the terror stuck home. Two British Muslims from England, funded by Hamas, targeted Mike’s Place, where he was working. One blew himself up at the entrance to the bar, killing three and injuring scores. The other fled when his detonator failed. David made aliyah three months later, on July 16th 2003.

A year later he joined the IDF ( military ) where he served in a artillery unit. During the war in 2006 with Lebanon, David’s unit was called up for action. He spent 28 days in the sun-drenched trenches of Lebanon dodging bullets and dismantling ketusha rocket launchers. It was during this time that he asked himself, what is this land all about that I am risking my life for, and what does it mean to be Jewish?

Soon after the war. David enrolled in a 2 year Israel guiding program. He learned the history of the land from Biblical times through the Romans, Crusaders, Arabs and of course Israel’s great return. At the same time he began studying in Aish HaTorah to find out what it is to be a Jew. There he met Bradley Cohen, founder of The All for the Kids Foundation.

David’s goal is to continue the tradition that Bradley started last year hiking the Israel National Trail for his charity “All For The Kids” and to use his skills as a professional guide to create a website that will document the hike and to tell of the lands rich history.