What follows is a tremendously personal story. It is 100% true and factual. I am publishing this in the hopes of bringing about a positive change at a Linux company that I view as historically significant and important — both to the broader open source industry and to myself.

I have kept quiet about this for far, far too long.

Before we start, I want to say that there are some amazing people who work for SUSE. Both back when the events of this story take place… and nowadays. People who are brilliant, kind, and generally wonderful. People who were supportive and helpful to me during the events I’m about to talk about. To all of you: keep being the good people I know you are.

Back in 2013, I joined SUSE — specifically the marketing team.

During my time working for SUSE (the longest running Linux company on Earth) I was — without question — the most publicly visible person within the company.

Not only did I bring a sizable audience with me when I joined the company, I then: Was elected to the openSUSE Board, represented SUSE at conferences (and in interviews) across the country, and created some of the most successful advertising campaigns in SUSE (and Linux) history… my name and personal brand became closely tied to SUSE. I was widely considered to be the “Go To Guy” for all things “Linux” related to SUSE marketing.

One thing we regularly did at SUSE… was to celebrate holidays. For example, back in 2014 I helped write “How Linux Saved Christmas”.

I love that stuff. Celebrating holidays — all holidays — and spreading a little joy and cheer from the company (and reminding people how cool Linux is in the process). So much fun.

The one thing we had never done, as a company, is make any mention of any Jewish holiday. Not once, not ever.

Well, no big deal.

Being a Jewish man, I can come up with something easily enough! So, in 2015, I drafted and published a very small “Happy Hanukkah” post that went out on SUSE Social Media (which I controlled 100% of for many years).

It was short, simple, pleasant.

Immediately after, I received instruction (handed down from the head of Marketing, a few steps above me on the totem pole, at SUSE) to delete the “Happy Hanukkah” posts.

I was also instructed — explicitly — to leave all content related to every other holiday (Christmas, etc.) online. The only holiday that was to be removed was the Jewish one.

So I did what any good little corporate boy would do… I deleted the posts that sounded a bit too “Jew-y”. And left all the other holiday content in place. As instructed. Did it make me happy as Jew? No. It did not.

Fun side note: Within mere minutes of deleting all of the content that referenced a Jewish holiday… an email went out to SUSE employees. Encouraging us all to sing Christmas carols. At the company office. Not joking.

Right about now you might be thinking to yourself, “SUSE — a German company — is forbidding the mentioning of Jewish holidays? That’s not a good look.” And, well, you wouldn’t be alone in having that thought.

Obviously I raised a concern about this through the proper channels within SUSE.

My immediate manager did the right thing… and raised my concerns up the chain of command.

That manager was promptly fired. And, needless to say, the issue was not addressed.

A new manager was hired for my team. After a short period of time, I brought up the whole “SUSE bans mentioning of Jews” issue to this manager as well. And, once again, my manager did the right thing and raised the issue up the chain of command.

That manager was, also, promptly fired.

At which point the head of SUSE Marketing — who issued the “No Jewish Holidays” rule, was given a significant promotion.

This is a good moment to mention how crazy good my performance within SUSE was. Not only was I the most recognized name and face within the company… I was personally responsible for starting, writing, and driving some of the most successful campaigns in SUSE history. SUSE’s financial results reflect my insanely good performance. Literally off the chart.

So, what happened next? I was reprimanded and moved off my team. Then denied a promised pay raise. At which point multiple false statements (provably so) were made about me internally by upper management.

In short:

The Jew that raised concerns about the German Linux company discriminating against Jews? Punished. Significantly. And any manager that inquired about the discrimination wa