Rabbi Naftali Citron, Rabbi of Congregation Kehilath Jacob, the Carlebach Shul in Manhattan, retold the tragedy of Cain and Able sung by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach in Vancouver almost 40 years ago. When Cain in anger, struck his brother Able and Able fell to the ground, Cain prayed for Able to awaken. Cain lied down next to his brother and for three days and three nights he cried and prayed and asked for forgiveness. Cain did not understand the idea of death, and when he realized the gravity of his sin, he pleaded for mercy from Hashem (Bereshis 4:13).
This is what Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, zt”l, was all about. He wanted brothers to share in their love of Hashem, their love of torah and their love of each other. He found a way to reach every Jew through song, acceptance and love. The world continues to celebrate and honor R’ Shlomo’s life by carrying on his legacy through concerts and Shabbatons. His supporters do not mourn his death, rather they celebrate his life by continuing to reach out and bring Jews closer to one another and to God.
On 16 Cheshvan, the 20th yahrtzeit of R’ Shlomo’s passing, a full house gathered at the West Side Institutional Synagogue in Manhattan for a tribute concert to a leader, singer, and inspiration. The audience was composed of yids in denim jeans and skirts, suits, black hats, baseball caps, satin kippot and streimels and all joined together in unity as Rabbi Chaim Kiss opened the event with a musical havdalah.
“It was an honor to lead this havdalah in memory of R’ Shlomo, a personal role model and friend,” said Chaim Kiss. “When I was first getting started in the world of music, I saw R’ Shlomo at an Israel Day Concert. When I heard him sing and how he was reaching so many through his music, I knew at that moment that this is what I wanted to do, and he helped me believe I can do it.”
After the conclusion of havdalah, the lead singer of the Krohn Bros. Band began the evening of music, dancing and unity. He voiced to the audience that, “R’ Shlomo was a man who had a vision, a man who imparted to each of us something deeper than any song alone can do. It was the tools to bring all of klal yisroel closer to Hashem.”
As MC of the evening and record producer of Shlomo Carlebach’s last 13 of 14 albums, Zale Newman, a prominent figure and Jewish activist in the Toronto Jewish Community, shared his first encounter with R’ Shlomo.
“R’ Shlomo came to my shul in Toronto and sang with such passion. My father had one of those big old recording devices and recorded the event. After listening, from that moment on I became a student of R’ Shlomo.” He reminded everyone that, “R’ Shlomo’s thoughts on the reason we have shuls is to be a family within a family,” and this is the exact feeling passed on by Rabbi Citron at the Carlebach Shul, a feeling of family, welcome and acceptance.
R’ Shlomo’s start came about in the late 1950s when the last Jew left the DP camps. A whole generation was silent, sad and lonely. Our people were spread throughout the four corners of the world and we were without a voice, we lost our ability to speak and to sing certainly seemed impossible. Into this environment came R’ Shlomo. He gave people song, he gave them back a voice, and he gave them hope. It didn’t matter their background or where they came from. Today not a Jewish wedding takes place that does not play at least one of R’ Shlomo’s songs.
Around 1962, a young man from Columbia University–during a search for love and spirituality–met Shlomo Carlebach and eventually joined the Diaspora Band. Now as Director of Queen’s College Hillel, Professor of Judaic Studies, and the “Rockin’ Rabbi,” Rabbi Moshe Shur has recorded 10 albums with the Moshe Shur Band and continues to follow in the Carlebach tradition of welcoming all and helping those searching find spirituality and connection to their Jewish roots and to God. Rabbi Shur’s music at the tribute concert was empowering as people began to rise from their seats and sway arm in arm to every musical note.
Sruli Williger, who runs a Carlebach minyan in Brooklyn, then began singing and other than the vibrations and banging of feet hitting the floor, no sound was heard over his words and music. Dr. Elli Kranzler, friend, supporter and student of R’ Shlomo, took the stage with his gentle demeanor and impassioned words accompanied by his guitar continued to set the ambiance for this night of harmony among brothers and sisters. According to Dr. Kranzler, “Anyone writing and playing Jewish music today is because R’ Shlomo opened the gates for us. He brought everyone together and gave us all a voice.”
Mr. Newman, told a story that anytime R’ Shlomo would come to Toronto he would thank his hosts telling them, “You are the best hosts ever.” One time he spent a Shabbos at two different homes and before he left each, he told his hosts, “You are the best ever.” Mr. Newman took him aside and asked how he could say that to two different hosts? He thought he was all about truth, honesty, how can two be the very best? R’ Shlomo replied, “You are looking at it from this world, where there is only one best basketball team, one Olympic gold winner. I, however, am looking at it from Hashem’s point of view, how it is in shamayim, where we are all the very best.”
The last musical talent of the event, Rabbi Yehuda Green, Chazzan at the Carlebach Shul, brought anyone still seated to his or her feet with his all-encompassing energy. Well past midnight, young, old and everyone in between danced together as one people.
This event was brought together under the leadership and organization of Mr. Yaakov Dov Miller. He took over production of the Carlebach events about nine years ago when the organizer was unable to see the program to its fruition. Mr. Miller realized that, at the time, the musicians were really nice, talented guys, playing wedding songs with little connection to R’ Shlomo. He knew that musically what was being delivered did not warrant a $35 ticket or give the proper kavod to R’ Shlomo. So the following year he gave an entire overhaul to the program bringing in the best musicians and bands he knew, those who had a connection to R’ Shlomo. He invited Eytan Katz, Elli Kranzler and Soul Farm, among others, who would keep the music smooth, real and honest.
When Mr. Miller first got involved, he came on stage and played “Orech Yamim.” The crowd went wild. They were thirsty for “what was real,” music the way Carlebach intended it to be. By upping the musical quality, the format became so popular that they soon needed to locate a new venue. It began at the Carlebach Shul, moved to the Lincoln Square Synagogue, and finally, to handle the crowds, the concert takes place at the West Side Institutional Synagogue. Mr. Miller said, “The best part about R’ Shlomo is that he reached Jews from all backgrounds, all hashkafic levels and affiliations. And this is what I looked for in musicians, to give him the kavod he deserves. This year was a great honor for me to have Rabbi Shur perform. He is my rabbi and inspired me to connect to Yiddishkeit on a real level.” During this tribute, though our physical location was at a Shul on 76th Street, really we were on 79th (location of the Carlebach Shul).
By Jennifer Jaffe
