The Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Foundation

Reb Shlomo and Adar

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Foundation — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:22:07 +0000

Adar includes many notable holidays. On the 13th we commemorate the Fast of Esther, on the 14th we celebrate Purim (15 Adar Shushan Purim – celebration of Purim in walled cities existing during the time of Joshua)

The Yahrtzeits (anniversary of the death) of many great Rebbe’s who inspired Reb Shlomo are celebrated during Adar. On Adar 4 is the Yahrtzeit of Reb Leib Sarah’s (1730-1796), a disciple of the Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov. One of the “hidden tzaddikim,” Rabbi Leib spent his life wandering from place to place to raise money for the ransoming of imprisoned Jews and the support of other hidden tzaddikim. On the 13th Adar we commemorate the Yahrtzeit of Reb Moshe Feinstein (March 3, 1895- March 23, 1986) and on Adar 20 we remember RebYoel Sirkes (1560-1640), who authored of the Bayit Chadash (“Bach”) commentary on the Halachic work, Beit Yosef. On the 23rd of Adar we commemorate the death of Reb Yitzchak Meir Altar (1799-1866), author of Chiddushei Harim who was a disciple of the Maggid of Koshnitz and Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa, and the founder of the “Ger” (Gerer) Chassidic dynasty. All his 13 sons had died in his lifetime, and he was succeeded (in 1870) by his young grandson, Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter (the “Sefat Emmet”).

Reb Shlomo was always in “top form” during the week of Purim. He shared with us some of his deepest and most poignant Torah’s and Stories on Purim.

Here are some videos, music and stories and gevalt Purim Torahs!!

Be sure to come back on a daily basis as new content is added frequently!!

Reb Shlomo and Shevat

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Foundation — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:22:45 +0000

Shevat provided a lot of inspiration to Reb Shlomo. Some of his most profound Torahs are based on the Rebbes whose Yahrzeits we remember in Shevat.

On the first of Shevat, Moshe Rabbaneu convened the Jewish people and began the 37-day “review of the Torah”, which he concluded on the day of his death on Adar 7. The second of Shevat is the Yahrzeit of Meshulam Zusha of Anipoli (1718-1800) who was a disciple Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch. On the 3rd of Shevat we remember Reb Yosef ben Rabbi Menachem Kalish zt”l, the Amshinover Rebbe, who died in 1935. On the 4th of Shevat we celebrate the Yahrzeit of Reb Moshe Leib of Sasov (1745-1807), one of the early Chasidic Rebbes in Poland whose actions served as the basis of many of Reb Shlomo’s most memorable stories.

On the 5th of Shevat we remember the Yahrzeit of the “Sfas Emes”, Reb Yehudah Arye Leib Alter of Ger (1847-1905), who was the second Gerer Rebbe. On the seventh of Shevat, Reb Dovid Biederman of Lelov (1746-1814) passed on to olam habah.. He was a disciple of the Seer of Lublin. Reb Shlomo was influenced by Reb Dovid’s Ahavat Yisrael (love of his fellow Jew). Reb Dovid was incapable of seeing faults in a fellow Jew. Two printed collections of stories about him are Migdal David and Kodesh Hillulim. Rabbi Dovid’s main disciple was Rabbi Yitzchak of Vurke whose parables so influenced Reb Shlomo.

On the 22nd of Shevat we remember the Yahrzeit of the Kotzker Rebbe (Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (1787-1859)) the forerunner of the Chassidic dynasties of Ger and Kotsk and on the
25 of Shevat we remember Reb Yisrael Lipkin of Salant (1810-1883), the founder of the “Mussar” movement.

Tu Bishvat (Shevat 15), the “New Year of the Trees” (Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot) is one of four “New Years” mentioned in the Mishnah. Many Chassidic Rebbes pickle or candy the etrog from Sukkot and eat it on Tu Bishvat and pray that they will be worthy of a beautiful etrog on the following Sukkot.

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Reb Shlomo and Tevet

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:12:05 +0000

Reb Shlomo shared with us many insights about the month of Tevet. In addition to Hanukkah which is celebrated between 25 Kislev—2 Tevet and the fast day of 10 Tevet when the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. (On Tammuz 17, the city walls were breached, and on Av 9th of that year, the Holy Temple was destroyed.), the month is laden with many days that recall events in the history of the Jewish People

On Rosh Hodesh Tevet, Esther made Queen (and Esther was taken to King Achashwerosh, to his palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tevet, in the seventh year of his reign. And the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won his favor and kindness more than all the virgins; he placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in Vashti’s stead.” On the 8th of Tevet the Torah translated into Greek, and the 9th we celebrate the Yahrzeit of Ezra, who led the return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel after the Babylonian exile (423-353 BCE), oversaw the building of the Second Temple, canonized the 24 books of the Bible and, as head of the “Great Assembly” legislated a series of laws and practices (including formalized prayer) which left a strong impact to Judaism until even this day. Ezra died on the 9th of Tevet of the Hebrew year 3448 (313 BCE, which is exactly 1000 years after the Torah was given on Mount Sinai). The death of Ezra marked the end of what is called the “Era of Prophesy.”

On the 18th of Tevet (469) The Exilarch (“Resh Galuta”) of Babylonian Jewry, Huna Mori bar Mor Zutra, was executed in Pumpeditha by order of the Persian emperor . Also killed on that day was Rav Mesharshia bar Pekod (the third Jewish leader who was arrested with them, Rab Amemor bar Mor Yenuka, was executed two months later). On the 20 Tevet Reb Moses ben Maimon,(Rambam -Maimonides) a famous Talmudist, Halachist, physician, philosopher and communal leader died in Egypt in 1204.

The month of Tevet also includes the Yahrzeits (anniversary of the death) of many great Rebbes who had a profound influence on the Torahs and Stories of Reb Shlomo.

On the 17th of Tevet we celebrate the Yahrzeits of Rec Aaron Zelig ben Joel Feivush of Ostrog, Russia, who authored of Toldot Aaron, (1754) and Rabbi Yaakov Wolf Krantz (1740-1804), the Maggid (itinerant preacher) of Dubna, who is particularly known for the parables (meshalim) he employed in his sermons and writings. On the 18 Tevet – (1841) – we commemorate the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Shapiro of Dynov (1783-1841), author of the Chassidic work B’nei Yissachar. On the 24th of Tevet we celebrate the Yahrzeit of Reb Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), the founder of Chabad Chassidism and on the 27th of Tevet we recall the Death of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888), a Talmudist, scholar, philosopher, prolific author and Rabbi of Frankfurt am Main. He is noted for encouraging Orthodox Judaism to German Jewry, convincing thousands to the teachings of the Torah at a time when assimilation trends were very high for Jewish life in Western Europe.

Reb Shlomo and Kislev

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Foundation — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:39:50 +0000

Reb Shlomo shared with us many insights about the month of Kislev. In addition to Hanukkah which is celebrated between 25 Kislev—2 Tevet, the month is laden with many days that recall events surrounding many great Rebbes who had a profound influence on the Torahs and Stories of Reb Shlomo.

On the 5th Kislev we celebrate the yahrtzeit (anniversary of the death) of Reb Shemuel Eliezer Eidel’s (1555-1631), the “Maharsha” and on the 9th of Kislev we recall the day that Reb Dov Ber. the son of Reb Schneur Zalman·of Liadi was born and died on. On the 10th of Kislev (1826) Reb Dov Ber was released from prison, a day that is celebrated by Chabad Chassidim and on the 18th of Kislev the body of Reb Baruch Mezhibuzher, the son of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov’s daughter, Adel, and her husband, Rabbi Yechiel Ashkenazi left this world. On the 19th we remember the death of the The Maggid of Mezeritch and on the 19th of Kislev we recall the release of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi from prison. On the 21st of Kislev we recall how in 1944 the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum was rescued from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, along with 1,368 other Jews. On the 27th of Kislev we recall the time that the Flood rains ceased (forty days and nights of rainfall which covered the face of earth with water in Noah’s time) and the death of Reb Chaim of Tchernovitz (Be’er Mayim Chayim (“Well of Living Waters”)) who was a disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch and of Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov.

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Reb Shlomo and Cheshvan – Marheshwan

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Foundation — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:31:06 +0000

Cheshvan (Marheshwan) is the second month of the civil year and the eighth month of the ecclesiastical on the Hebrew calendar. In the Bible it is called Bul (I Kings 6:38). On 7 Cheshvan – V’tein Tal u-Matar (“Deliver Dew and Rain”), a prayer, is added to the Shemoneh Esrei prayers.

During Cheshvan we celebrate the yahrtzeit (anniversary of the death) of Reb Shlomo and two Rebbes who Reb Shlomo frequently quoted. On the 3rd of Cheshvan we remember Yisroel Friedman (1797-1850) (Der Heyliger Rizhiner), On the 11 Cheshvan we remember the memory of Reb Nachum of Chernobyl who was a disciple of Rabbi DovBer of Mezeritch, the founder of the Chernobyl dynasty of Chassidic Rebbes.

On the 27th of Cheshvan of the Hebrew year 1657 (2104 BCE) “the earth dried” (Genesis 8:14), which finished the 365-day duration of the Mabul, the great flood. Reb Shlomo taught us that on this day we should be like Noah and “Come out of the ark” by repopulating, settling and civilizing the planet that we all share.

Recommended Reb Shlomo Torahs about Yisroel Friedman (1797-1850) (Der Heyliger Rizhiner)

Reb Shlomo and Hoshana Raba

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:08:36 +0000

Reb Shlomo taught us that Hoshana Rabbah is the day of the final sealing of judgment, which began on Rosh Hashannah. During the festival of Sukkot the world is judged for water and for the blessings of the fruit and crops. The seventh day of the festival is the final sealing and since human life depends on water, Hoshana Raba is somewhat similar to Yom Kippur.

Reb Shlomo and Sukkot

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:28:24 +0000

Sukkot (also known as Succoth, Sukkos, Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles), is a Biblical pilgrimage festival that occurs in autumn on the 15th day of the month of Tishri. Reb Shlomo taught us that every second in the Sukkah you can taste Paradise in the most eternal way. Once a year we sit with our holy Mothers and our holy Fathers in the Sukkah. Reb Shlomo blessed us that it should also be with our children — all the children of Israel and eventually all the children of the world.

Read Sukkot: Carrying the Torah forever

Reb Shlomo and Yom Kippur

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Foundation — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:33:15 +0000

Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement,) is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews the world over traditionally observe this holy day with fasting, meditation and prayer.

Reb Shlomo taught us that G-d inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into a "book" on Rosh Hashanah and waits until Yom Kippur to "seal" the verdict. During the Ten Days of Repentance, we try to fix our behavior and seek forgiveness for wrongs done against G-d (bein adam leMakom) and against our fellow planet sharers (bein adam lechavero).

Reb Shlomo and Rosh Hashanah

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Foundation — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:34:11 +0000

Rosh Hashanah, the “Jewish New Year” is the first of the High Holidays or Yamim Noraim (“Days of Awe”), or Asseret Yemei Teshuva (The Ten Days of Repentance) which are days specifically set aside to focus on repentance that conclude with the holiday of Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is the start of the civil year in the Hebrew calendar, the new year for people, animals, and legal contracts and commemorates the creation of man whereas five days earlier, on 25 of Elul, marks the first day of creation.

Read:

Rosh Hashanah: Give everyone a chance to begin again

Rosh Hashanah: Not putting any limits on where we could reach

Rosh Hashanah: Every second counts

Rosh Hashanah: Wake up the world

Rosh Hashanah: The fixing of the Tree of Knowledge

Saying Bad about others

Elul: Redemption Through Responsiveness

Rosh Hashanah: Let’s fix the world!

Opening the Gates

Ki Va Mo’ed: When the Time Comes

Redemption Through Responsiveness

Reb Shlomo and Elul

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Foundation — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:51:48 +0000

Elul is the twelfth month of the Jewish civil year and the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar.

Reb Shlomo taught us that Elul is a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holy Days. In Aramaic (the language of the Talmud), the word “Elul” means “search.” The Talmud writes that the Hebrew word “Elul” can be expanded as an acronym for “Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li” – “I am to my Beloved and my Beloved is to me.” Elul is seen as a time to search one’s heart and draw close to God in preparation for the coming Day of Judgement, Rosh Hashanah, and Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur.

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