[HANASHIR:15587] Re: Carlebach

[rysaa <rysaa...>]

I wish he was around today to bring back a young man who is lost.  This young 
man can certianly use his inspiration.

Risa
> 
> From: rahel <rahel (at) empire(dot)net>
> Date: 2003/10/14 Tue AM 12:29:09 EDT
> To: jmc31 (at) nyu(dot)edu,  hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject: [HANASHIR:15583] Carlebach
> 
> Shalom,
> 
> In response to your request for Carlebach stories....
> 
> I have forwarded your request to some of my friends who knew Carlebach 
> personally and were musicians for his concerts. Perhaps they will respond.
> 
> Though I did not know Carlebach personally, I can attest to the fact that 
> he was very successful at inspiring "lost" Jews to find their way back to 
> Judaism. Moshav Modiin in Israel was founded either by Carlebach - or most 
> definitely by Carlebach followers and still functions today much according 
> to his inspiration and teachings. Because of Carlebach's somewhat 
> unconventional approach he was able to attract and inspire many young 
> people to follow his lead to become observant Jews. This is all a very good 
> thing.
> 
> I, personally, was not particularly impressed, nor inspired by Carlebach. 
> However, I can safely say that I felt the full power of his influence 
> indirectly through many of my friends who were directly inspired by him.
> 
> I have three stories to share:
> 
> 1. A late night in Jerusalem, after a gig, found me and a few other 
> musicians in the only restaurant that was still serving at 2AM. Sitting in 
> the restaurant on Rehov Agrippas  in the shuk in Jerusalem's town center, 
> eating chummus and pita, we sat, ate and chatted. About 2:30 am, my friend 
> noted that, "Hey, it's Shlomo Carlebach!". Lo and behold, in comes Shlomo 
> with 2 or 3 others. Yes, he was also after a gig and was hungry. We all 
> greeted each other and Shlomo came over to bless us. We chatted for a few 
> minutes then continued on our way. I guess Shlomo also knew where the only 
> late night meal could be had!
> 
> 2. I was invited to a wedding that was to take place at Moshav Modiin. 
> Carlebach was to be the officiating Rabbi of the ceremony. The ceremony 
> began and as the couple stood under the chuppah, Carlebach began to conduct 
> the ceremony. There was lots of singing and holy words. However, three 
> hours later, the couple was still standing under the chuppah and Carlebach 
> was still going strong. I turned to my husband and suggested that it seemed 
> this wedding was going to be a very long one and who knows how long it 
> would be before they would break the glass! We decided it was time to go. I 
> have no idea how long the couple stood under the chuppah or when the 
> festivities began after that or how long the wedding lasted. I can only 
> imagine it was quite a long night!
> 
> 3. I attended an evening with Carlebach - it must have been a Motzei 
> Shabbat. There was lots and lots of singing. Most people sat on the floor 
> all around the Rav and he simply sat and sang and told stories all night. 
> The mood was spiritual. Carlebach led the evening much as a train of 
> thought - very fluid and fluent - one song leading into another, one story 
> into a song etc. All the people there simple closed their eyes, listening 
> and swaying and singing along.
> 
> Carlebach was an influential man. We sing his songs without even knowing it 
> because they have become part of our Jewish heritage, culture, liturgy and 
> history. He was a force that inspired a large number of people, and 
> continues to inspire people even today after his passing. His stories, 
> songs and teachings are still very much alive in the lives and hearts of 
> many of his followers in Israel and the USA. In his lifetime he 
> accomplished much.
> 
> Rahel
> 
> 
> 

Risa Askin

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