[Stephen]

Hello fellow students, my name is Stephen, I am a geologist, I measure the properties of the earth with respect to wave energy travel time or electomagnetic properties. I guess the Kabbalists may be similar on another level. Hebrew name is Simcha, meaning joy. Until recently, i did not make time to learn about my religion. I believed it was one more thing that created a separation between myself and everyone else. And it was not relevent. My mother recently passed away. She passed on the yertzeit anniversary of Channa Schneerson, who was a very respected wife and mother of two famous rebbis pushing the Hassidic movement to new heights. I realized that what I considered a burden, being different, being separate from the majority of people, was a gift, I inherited this great spiritual legacy. I owe my mother a great debt for all of for care she provided me. I ordered a rabbi to the hospital room. I wrapped my arm in tefilin, and connected with my ancestors, vocalized the prayers, the Viddui, the shema. That was my emergency credentialing. I protected her from harm in her final days, but it was not enough. Not enough to satisfy me. In addition to saying the kaddish each day, now I will continue the path learning Kabbalah and Talmud.  That is my gift to her and my gift paying it forward to the world.

Thanks for the learning opportunity.

[Author]

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