Elie Sutton, now in his mid 80’s, is a community legend. Born in Aleppo, Syria, Mr. Sutton was instructed to leave his home at the age of 19 by his father, when at the time Syrian Jews under the control of the Ottoman Empire were facing a severe economic decline and a wave of sharp anti-Semitism following the declaration of the state of Israel in 1948.
In the next 5 years, Sutton found himself traveling from Egypt to Lebanon, from Iran to Shanghai, in a perpetual state of homelessness. At the age of 24 he finally crossed the continent and found a home in Brooklyn, NY, and established himself into the Sephardic Jewish community in Gravesend. From then on, Elie Sutton was on the forefront of nearly all the major changes and progressive advancements of the community. He took a leading role on community committees, helping to create new infrastructure, schools, and religious institutions.
When I get a chance to meet Mr. Sutton, I hope to ask him firsthand of his incredible journey from Syria to Brooklyn, which is documented in a book called Alien at Home: Divine Intervention, written by Bahia Abrams. I also would like to ask him in detail about the start of my community, and through what conflicts and challenges it had to go through to become what it is today. He has been described as brilliant, clear-minded, vibrant, personable, and extremely loving and generous. I am excited to see what I could learn from such an incredible man.
In addition to Mr. Sutton, I hope to also interview my Great Grandmother Virginia Sultan, who has lived in Brooklyn all her amazing 97 years, and has truly become a longstanding pillar in the community.
