You are Jacob. This is the story of your soul. As Jacob journeyed from Beersheva to Haran, so your soul journeyed from the wellspring of all souls to this formidable world. As Jacob made a vow as he departed, so too your soul made such a vow, Jacob’s vow. She said: “If G-d will be with me and protect me on this journey and provide me the bread of Torah wisdom to enlighten my soul, and the clothing of mitzvahs to shine light in places where it has never shone before... “And if I make it through the turmoil of earthly life, the burdens, the passions, the anxieties, the fears, the utter noise and cacophony of a fragmented, confused universe... “...to find the Infinite G-d in all these ways of humankind, to imbue them with my soul’s sense of divine purpose, to render them, as well, a way of knowing G‑d... “'...then G-d will be my G-d and this stone that I...