He was only four years old when his mother died. His memories of her are vague, and most of them are built from the pictures he has seen and the stories people have shared.
A year-and-a-half after his mother’s passing his father remarried. Rabbi Ellis shares that his stepmother is a wonderful person, and he has always had a good relationship with her. But while he grew up with two parents and a beautiful model of shalom bayis, he did not grow up with a mother. Because there is no replacement for a mother.
When Rabbi Ellis was growing up, he was sure that he was the only yasom in the world. When he did find a peer who also lost a parent, he was quick to connect with him. He was always a good listener and people opened up to him. He feels that this led him to his career as a therapist. Today he is a successful therapist in Passaic, NJ, and he is very involved in Shloimy’s Club, the boys’ division of LINKS.
He is also an author and has written about the silver linings he has found in different unique situations. Come learn from the boy who grew up without a mother.
https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-me-a-book-for-teens-who-have-lost-a-parent/
https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/
https://www.chevrahlomdeimishnah.org/product/i-wish-someone-would-have-told-my-friends/