Holy Sparks -Acknowledgments

A Note From Rae Ekman

Ten years ago I made the best decision I have ever made in my life. I began

to explore my Jewish heritage from the inside. I have always been a seeker of truth

and searched for spiritual truth in many places. As I was growing up, I never had

access to the deeper, inner wisdom of Judaism, so as an adult, I never expected

to find a meaningful experience in Jewish practice. Was I ever wrong!!! About

nine years ago, I decided to live according to Jewish law and Torah wisdom.

I started to keep Shabbos and eat only Kosher food. I found my first teacher

of Jewish wisdom, Rebbetzin Hinda Langer, who lives in San Francisco 300 miles

away!) (You can find an amazing teacher of Jewish wisdom for yourself by

clicking here.By taking these 3 steps, keeping Shabbos, eating Kosher,

and finding a Jewish spiritual mentor, I began to find the most amazing

spiritual treasures that were my own inheritance all along. As my dear friend

and mentor, Rebbetzin Langer says, "I just think a Jew should be Jewish!"

5,765 years of Torah wisdom (and my own experience, and that of thousands

of other returning Jews) proves that If you are Jewish, your soul can only be truly

fulfilled when you live according to the Torah. It has been (and continues to be)

an amazing journey every day - nothing less than the journey to the Infinite!

May you blessed with your own exciting journey

through the path of Torah and mitzvahs!

The wisdom on these pages comes from over 1,500 pages of calligraphic

notes that I have written in classes given by the extraordinary Jewish teachers

I have been privileged to hear over the last 10 years. I am deeply grateful to

the very humble and gifted teachers listed below who have influenced my life

and whose words are reflected in my pages:

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson,

Rabbi Elchonon Tauber Rebbetzin Shira Smiles

Rabbi Shlomo Holland Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller

Rabbi Chaim Zev CitronRebbetzin Holly Pavlov

Rabbi Avrohom CzapnikRebbetzin Chavi Panet

Rabbi Reuven Wolf Rebbetzin Rivka Katz

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Rebbetzin Bronya Shaffer

Rabbi Shlomo Brevda Rebbetzin Shimona Tzukernik

Rabbi Avraham Miller Rebbetzin Tehilla Jaeger

Rabbi Zelig PlishkinRebbetzin Rivka Benhiyoun

Rabbi David Aaron Rebbetzin Sara Karmely

Rabbi Shimon Raichik

Rabbi Label Groner Rebbetzin Olivia Schwartz

Rabbi Berkowitz Rebbetzin Denah Weinberg

Rabbi Gershon Schusterman Rebbetzin Chana Rachel Schusterman

Rabbi Yosef LangerRebbetzin Hinda Langer

Rabbi Yosef Shusterman Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis

Rabbi Yisroel MillerRebbetzin Sterna Citron

Rabbi Simon Jacobson Rebbetzin Shainy Jacobson

Rabbi Shaya Eichenblatt Rebbezin Yehudis Eichenblatt

Rabbi Shimon Green Rebbetzin Leah Kohn

Rabbi Shaul Leiter Rebbetzin Chaya Bracha Leiter

Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles Rebbetzin Shulamis Tilles

R. Schneur Zalman Stern

Rabbi Nachum Sauer And to my husband

Rabbi Frand Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Shagalov

Rabbi Paysach Krohnmy parents,

Rabbi Eli Stern Dale Marenburg

Rabbi Noach Orlowek& Adrian Ekman

Rabbi Dov Hellerand my children,

Rabbi Manis Friedman Juniper & Ezra

Rabbi Ben Zion Twersky

Rabbi Jeremy Kagan

Rabbi Lawrence Keleman Rabbi Yitzchak Adlerstein

Rabbi Ozer Bergman Rabbi Shlomo Goldberg

Rabbi Chaim Kramer Rabbi Berkowitz

Rabbi Label Trainer Rabbi Ari Hier

Rabbi Shurin Rabbi Nathan Cordoza

Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson Rabbi Mordechai Ganzweig

Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh

Rabbi Berel Wein Rabbi David Gottleib

Rabbi Akiva Tatz Rabbi Mordechai Becher

May the Master of the Universe bless them, increase their days and lengthen their years with good health and abundant livelihoods, and healthy children who will not cease from nor neglect the words of Torah. May they be delivered and protected from all distress and the works of their hands be blessed with success. And may we all merit to meet and learn together in The World-To-Come, may it be soon.