Kabbalist Rav Michael Laitman, a PhD in Philosophy and Kabbalah and an MS in Bio-cybernetics, is the founder and president of Bnei BaruchKabbalah Education & Research Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing widespread knowledge of Kabbalah. For twelve years he studied closely at the side of his mentor, Kabbalist Baruch Ashlag, the first-born son and successor to Kabbalist Yehuda Ashlag, author of the Sulam commentary on The Zohar. Once he received Rav Ashlag's teachings, he was committed to circulating it to others. He resides in Bnei Brack, Israel.