Matthew even considered forgoing his admission to New College and staying in Miami to work as an assistant to a rabbi. He worried about putting so much distance between himself and the Kabbalah Centre, but his father and his rabbis encouraged Matthew to go. The purpose of Kabbalah, they reminded him, was less about being observant or pious than about putting his faith to practical use. They told him to set an example on campus by respecting human dignity and always seeking out the best in himself and others. “Reach out and extend the hand, no matter who’s waiting on the other side,” his father
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