Shlomo Carlebach

I met Shlomo Carebach in Jerusalem

at the House of Love and Prayer. His life

was an eternal party. Music, mysticism,

many many people. A singing Hasid, he performed

at the Village Gate, at Carnegie Hall,

in front of his family’s synagogue on 79th Street.

Like many large people, his was a life

of inconsistencies, and serious joy. Being around

him made many people happy. Every year

around the holidays I think of Shlomo

explaining what holidays are, and singing. Always singing.

Years ago I ran into Shlomo

at West Side Market.

He was carrying a big paper bag

full of handwritten messages. He said they were

Hasidic fortune cookies without the cookie.

He told me to pick one and that would be

my message for the year.

ALWAYS JOY

was the message. I’ve saved his

small piece of paper for years.