A non-Orthodox "rabbi" recently declared ’But our tradition declared, “Because you suffer, therefore I am.”’ I know of no such statement in our tradition. Is there such a statement, or was the gentleman wrong?

Shalom. One should clearly not learn Judaism from those who have strayed from Judaism. There is no such a quote in Jewish sources, and the idea and the style, which sounds a bit Christian, clearly isn't ours. Yes, it's important to help and solve all suffering, but to turn suffering into the essential aspect of Judaism and our Loving Fatherly God, is simply wrong. With Love of Israel, Rav Ari Shvat