Suzanne Weiss was born in 1941 in Nazi-occupied Paris. Her parents were Jewish immigrants from Poland; both perished in the Holocaust (her mother at Auschwitz). Suzanne survived as a “hidden child,” protected by the solidarity of French peasant families and the Resistance. This miraculous survival became the cornerstone of her life—she views her existence as a gift of “global solidarity,” which instilled in her a profound sense of moral responsibility that transcends ethnic boundaries. After moving to the U.S. in 1950 and later settling in Canada, she became one of the most respected Jewish voices in North American leftist movements.
Professionally and intellectually, Weiss is renowned for her profound social commentary and her memoir. Her most significant achievement is the publication of her autobiography, Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey, which has been praised as a vital bridge connecting the tragic history of the 20th century with 21st-century social movements. Throughout her career as a printer and social worker, she has been a lifelong activist in socialist organizations (such as the League for Socialist Action), participating in the Black Power movement, women’s liberation, and environmental justice struggles. She is a core member of Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) and a leading practitioner of “intersectional solidarity.”
Weiss is one of the most resolute voices in the international community using her status as a Holocaust survivor to advocate for Palestinian rights. She argues that the policies of the Israeli government are a betrayal of the pledge “Never Again.” Throughout 2024 and 2025, despite being in her eighties, she has remained a fixture at large-scale protests in Toronto, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In her 2025 article, “Israel’s Crimes and Jewish People – A Clarification,” she demonstrated immense moral courage, stating sharply: “Conflating Zionism with Judaism is a crime against the Jewish people. As a Holocaust survivor, I have seen the systems of hate firsthand, and I refuse to see such a system repeated in Palestine in my name.” During a 2024 speech, she poignantly remarked: “Gaza has become a massive concentration camp. My survival was made possible by the solidarity of others; today, I must return that solidarity to the Palestinians.” She maintains that supporting Palestine is not just a political stance, but a lifelong fulfillment of the promise of “universal human dignity” made by those who survived the horrors of the Holocaust.