Maybe it was because she was an only child, born under miraculous circumstances to her holy parents, Rav Shimon and Beya Cohen, that led to a lifelong joie de vivre for Rebbetzin Shulamit Bitton-Blau.
Perhaps it was the massive and beautiful Birkas Kohanim endowed on the community from the shuls in Djerba each Shabbos, with priestly families who could trace their lineage centuries back.
It may have been her recovery from a burn accident at age six that required a yearlong hospitalization in Tunisia, after which the doctors told her she would likely never have children.
How it came about may have been a mystery, but what was clear to all who knew her was that Rebbetzin Bitton-Blau built upon her auspicious roots — and worked on herself and her faith so that even when she experienced significant loss and great challenges, she radiated true simchas hachaim. She loved other people, gave to her family and those around her with joy, and saw Torah as the shining gem in her life.
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