R’ Shlomo Carlebach 22nd Yahrzeit Events

Well it is November again . Big things are happening in the Jewish World. The Shabbat Project followed by R’ Shlomo Carlebach Yahrzeit Events in Israel & the US.

This year, the  Shlomo Carlebach Foundation is facilitating a series of grassroots Events promoting Reb Shlomo’s teachings, nigginum, Torahs by looking to create Unity.

As usual, there’s a host of activities surrounding his Yartzeit. This year is the 22nd anniversary of his passing and his music & influence is growing. Just look around the Shabbat Project where most of the tunes of the Kabbalat Shabbat and special Havdalah are his. In fact, any Jewish gathering that involves a guitar has its roots with Reb Shlomo.

Besides Reb Shlomo’s music – he wanted to spread the message of love of every Jew (unconditionally – he would say – you never know, you know how holy a Jew is), and of course a love of the beauty of the Shabbat – he had so many songs, so many stories about Shabbat. It is the sincerity of his message that is attracting so many followers.

There is a growing interest in his music and message among different “tribes” including Chareidi followers.  If you want to witness real unity and inspiration, then I suggest you visit the gathering at his grave site, attended by hundreds of Jews of all stripes… The gathering starts at 2:30 pm on Thursday 17th of November, in Har Menuchot in Jerusalem, and lasts for about 3 hours. You can expect Tehillim sung in the tunes of Reb Shlomo’s nigunim, accompanied by guitars, drums and percussion instruments.

After this, there is a Mincha that is just out of this world, a small piece of heaven you may say, and this lasts over an hour. The service is sung to the tune of various moving niggunim and is an absolute must. For a glimpse of how spectacular this can be, just do a quick search on YouTube.

Even more remarkable, are the number of events marking his life and celebrating his contribution to Judaism.

Every year, The Shlomo Carlebach Foundation hosts a memorial concert on a date close to the anniversary of Carlebach’s death. In the past, these concerts have been held in Jerusalem, usually at the Jerusalem International Convention Center, which is one of the few places with premises large enough to hold the huge attendance of Carlebach fans.

This year, the Carlebach Foundation decided to facilitate many grass-roots local events around Israel and in the U.S. In addition, there are many private groups and organizations hosting Carlebach concerts in the week of the yahrzeit and on Motzei Shabbat VaYera, 19 November. There are also various shabbatonim to commemorate Reb Shlomo’s yartzeit.

Such is the demand, there will be still be a concert at Binyamei Hauma that a private promoter together with the Jerusalem municipality are hosting a Concert on Motzei Shabbat Parsha Ve’era – 19th November.

There is even a concert in Tel Aviv, on Sunday, 13 November called Carlebach Opera featuring Haim Adler, Yitzhak Meir, Lipa Glanz accompanied by the Ra’anana Symphony, with the Tel Aviv Mayor in attendance.

Some of these events are listed on the Carlebach Events page of www.shlomocarlebachfoundation.org. In addition, There is also a WhatsApp group, “Carlebach Neto”, which promotes &  lists many events.

After the yartzeit, there are number of “after parties” depending on your outlook — from Yakar, to Givat Shaul (Chareidi) to other alternative gatherings.

All in all, one can truly see that Reb Shlomo’s Yartzeit marks a colorful, moving and interesting experience for all Jews around the world.