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.
What beauty.
Love the image of a paper bag filled with fortunes...not the cookies!