Carlebach Five Years Tribute Concert, CityHall 1999

[Music] [Applause] early. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] What you like your Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat [Music] up here. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] All righty. Thank you Charlotte and Orchestra Deus Leon Neesh Journeys Aish. These are among the projects that are credited to one of the most wonderful composers, arrangers and now performers in our wonderful world of Jewish music. He is somebody who was influenced greatly by the labor of Schwan Kalba and had a hand in the production of one of the classics an LP entitled Schlom Kalba and the children of Jewish song. Ladies and gentlemen appearing tonight on behalf of the Fone Fund and the Jewish community of Febru along with Schlommo Sima Dove Lavine. and Schlamy Dax. Please welcome Amy Rottenberg. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for the very warm [Music] welcome. We gather here tonight in support of the settlers of as a typical yeshiva ber who grew up on this side of the ocean. I hope you'll forgive me for not saying but no matter how you say it, these are people who inspire us through their ms nephesh. Nas nephesh for their ideals. Ms neffesh for ms nephesh for their brethren wherever they may live. Another example of ms nephesh was the life of makaba. We shouldn't think of schlimmer as an entertainer. He used his songs as a means to elevate to bring yen closer to their maker. He was a teacher but with stories and songs instead of school books. and the whole world was his classroom. And this is why we miss him so very much. There's mamish no one else who can do what he did. But thankfully we have his music more popular today than ever. Countless melodies to remember and treasure. Ladies and gentlemen, written shortly after his patira together with her Travis of Toronto. A tribute to Schlam Kalbach. [Applause] People think, people say that the saddest thing in life is when someone passes on and leaves this world. But let me tell you, let me tell you that the saddest thing in life is when someone leaves this world and leaves nothing behind. But you have you have you left us all all of a legacy a small piece of your precious soul. You left us with a gift of your song. And you wrote no music for yourself. Enough for enough for wealth only to bring us closer to bring your brothers, sisters, and children closer to the master of the world. [Music] Three [Music] [Applause] [Music] shining Yeah. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] I see [Music] [Applause] [Music] She how you loved your fellow Jew. You brought hope and you brought comfort to the battlefields and prisons to where no one else to where no one else would go into the darkest night of Russia into the coldest distant heart. And you lifted up our spirits with your tears and with your [Music] love. Yeah. Heat. [Music] Oh, heat, heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Hey, Yeah. Heat. [Music] To tell you the truth. To tell you the truth. Everyone knows that your music is not sad at all. Is filled with so much joy, so much joy and so much. And for the past 40 years, there has never been a su where the in the column did not dance to your holy [Music] name. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Oh, what about sharpies? H sharpies. T [Music] sh and what about shabus? We know the highest, holiest, most special day in your life was the shabas. And you brought so many back to the shabas. And so many so many live all over the world. Love me. I'm still searching for shies. Still hoping for [Music] shine. Shine is shine. Sh. [Music] I [Music] see [Music] him. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] This one is my [Music] she is my she is free to [Music] SH to see my She my sh my sheat. [Applause] [Music] to say all your beautiful stories and to sing all your songs with promise take forever if not longer. But there is one more thing, one more thing that I must say to you. You taught us how to turn [Music] to how to pray for the holy holy city of how to ask for to bring us back to you. How to love you [Music] show Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Sh. Yeah. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Yeah. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Just want to take a quick moment to acknowledge the very fine musicians we have with us on stage this evening. Ladies and gentlemen, as at most significant Jewish music events, the Nagginina Orchestra Our conductor this evening is someone who really needs no introduction. I've had the pleasure of working with him on numerous projects and I must say that he as much as any vocalist or songwriter has helped to shape Jewish music as we know it today. Ladies and gentlemen, a very talented musician and arranger lamb. I don't know what happened to the they disappeared. Dax Dove Lavine and Simha are wonderful vocalists and recording artists. I've had the pleasure of working with them on recordings and they are all great fans of the music of Rip Schlimmer. Ladies and gentlemen, sit back and and enjoy as they each will perform a selection of Kalahun for you [Applause] tonight. Thank you very much. It's really an honor and a privilege to be here this evening. I'm truly humbled to be chosen for the few to be able to sing at a tribute for the one and only shalom. Thank you. I'm humbled because growing up as a child wherever you went every single song every who didn't know song. So for me in my little way of joining the music business for me to be here tonight it's really really humbling and an honor and thank you all for coming tonight for supporting and enjoying yourself at the same time. Thank you. [Music] More hash [Music] Oh no. Oh no. He me. [Music] [Applause] Oh [Music] no. Oh no. [Music] He [Music] I need other [Music] [Applause] [Music] be time. Oh yeah. [Applause] [Music] Why are there time? [Music] [Applause] [Music] We are the [Applause] Sh. Heat. [Music] Heat. Yeah. Heat. [Music] Yeah. [Applause] Heat. Yeah. Heat. Yeah. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Laughter] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] He says [Music] [Applause] [Music] Sh. Say Sure. Say Oh sh way be [Music] [Applause] [Music] I show my way you [Music] are [Music] shy. I a I know you know I'm sh Heat. Heat. [Music] I shall your [Music] Lord, show you how can I believe I [Music] al surely all I know with all I know. [Music] I came before I [Music] [Applause] [Music] La all I know all I know I am all I know All a joy [Music] happy with all [Music] joy of God with all. Thank you. [Applause] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] I should follow you The color will show me [Music] [Applause] Yeah, I [Music] should we Yeah. [Music] Sh I came all your soul. [Music] Oh my sh [Music] [Applause] [Music] Because [Applause] [Music] [Applause] my care, you know. [Music] [Applause] [Music] He [Music] I [Music] [Applause] [Music] sh my [Music] My Lord my [Music] [Applause] [Music] Sh my shin. [Music] He made me I may [Music] sh [Music] My sh [Music] Yeah. [Applause] My eyes behind. [Applause] [Music] We don't want you show [Music] We are you [Music] sure we share our [Music] We are we I for [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Unbelievable. You know at any malba concert or concert he would always say tiger. And there's a beautiful verse from the Vagon that I just have to share with you tonight. It's on words to the song that Schlami just sangu was the highest of all. Everyone knows that theono that Moshe spoke but he was just a conduit for the voice of the as well reached this exalted level. How do we know this says the god? Because it says the name of god was not spoken. It emanated from Aaron's lips. What about the holy navish? The puss says insh when was admonishing the people at the time of schol's inauguration that whenever they strayed from God byem God sent them great prophets and judges to guide them who was gon was and why the vagon asks does it say it was who was speaking it should have said vi The gone answers that this was another example of lipped the words but it was the voice of God speaking through him that is Moshe the greatest of the and while serving as the co and when he called out his own name these three who are on the highest of levels call out to Hashem and he answers I would like to suggest that Lahabil Schlma was also a conduit, a conduit for the music of the Malikim, a conduit for music that came from above. And we know that he felt that way. He was very particular that his nagunim be sung without variation. And he felt privileged to have had the great to present them to us. This next song is one of his oldest and greatest pieces. I don't know if he ever performed it in concert. But we are all proud. Thank you guys. to present it to you tonight's first. [Applause] [Music] Oh, king. [Music] H the king is our king. [Music] Oh, you must [Music] see because [Music] Oh, we [Music] are the way [Music] [Applause] [Music] So here Little [Music] The [Music] I [Music] [Applause] see Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Yeah. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Oh, heat, heat. [Music] Oh yeah. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Schlama Schlama love to go there to breathe its air, mingle with its people. I know from my father how hard he worked to establish a moshav and his thoughts were always with no matter where he was in the world. Nothing would have made him happier than to see every single Yiddila go back to the holy land to fulfill the prophecy of [Applause] [Music] Oh [Music] Yeah. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Yeah. Heat. [Music] Oh [Applause] [Music] sh. Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] The [Music] shing the sh [Music] You [Music] [Applause] love I have a friend in Toronto who always loved Schle's music and at any given time you could hear a Kalba record playing in his home. His father however was a his father however a very wonderful fullb himself grew up in the courtyards of kasidic reb in Poland and was not so easily impressed nice tunes but from the but one day he was walking past the den and he heard a kalbach medley crackling away on the turntable something caught his attention. He stopped. He listened. And after it was over, he told his son that niggan is him. Listen closely, there's nothing like it in the whole world. Give a heart Hold on. Give [Music] us [Music] give us [Music] through. We love this. [Music] We pro [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Yeah, we love you [Music] see you could Nobody [Music] see I never wish [Music] Jesus all [Music] your desire. [Music] might give [Music] our [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Yeah. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Oh, heat, heat. Yeah. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Yeah. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Oh, heat, heat. [Music] [Applause] As beautiful as Schlimmer's intricate Nagunim were, his genius is evident in the simple songs he wrote. Who else but Schlimmer could get up and sing a song for hours that only had three words in [Music] it. He could sing it over and over again without it getting stale. Each verse would propel you into the refrain and the refrain would whip you back into the verse. Mamish. Unbelievable. Without this ability, Schwemer still would have been a great composer. But because he had this talent, he reached out musically to everyone. Kilon dati, left, right, American, Israeli, Russian, and anyone else for that matter. The music was sweet, simple, and magical. [Music] God. [Music] Oh, all [Music] the Oh, [Music] Oh, I am so [Applause] [Music] you [Music] Heat. [Applause] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Oh my god. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Oh, heat. [Music] [Applause] Every time Schlama performed, he would tell stories of great rebes and sadiking. I don't think tonight should be any different. This story is about a great saddic an unbelievable o and his name was [Music] Makabah. I heard this story directly from Rabbi Yakov who was a prominent Thomas and educator who was a ro in Buffalo New York back in the 1980s. It's also recorded in a wonderful book about Schlima by Madel called Holy Brother. She'll run to your local Judeaic shop tomorrow. Pick it up. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Rabul in Buffalo was a small minion, a group of people that he mostly brought back to Yiddishai and he had scheduled for laare a small kumitz in his sh and he had arranged for Moshi from Toronto to ride down the QEW and perform. good friend Moshias on Thursday the la bomber was Sunday that year and on Thursday he gets a call from Moshi and says Rabbi Haper I don't know what to tell you but I slipped on my front step and I broke my leg and I'm in terrible pain it's a cast up to my hip I can't show up for the uh for the kumit he says Mosha what are we going to do it's terrible I said I got to have somebody said I'm sorry I can't make it but I'll give you Kalva's phone number and maybe he can So, Rabbi Habber took down the phone number and he thought to himself, you know, Schlomma's a little bit controversial. Maybe I shouldn't uh have him come to Arsh. I don't know. I'm going to call my Rebi. Calls Rabbi Pin Shinberg and Isis tells him the dilemma. Moshe broke his leg and come to the concert. And he said, "I'm thinking of calling Schlomma Kabak to come and replace him." Rabbi Shinberg says, "I heard Schlomma Kabak has a good voice. That's not what I mean. A little controversial. Don't worry. You tell Schlommo what your der is in Kirb and I'm sure he'll respect it. So Rahab goes and calls Schlommo and he gets his answering machine and he leaves him a message. A few hours later he gets a phone call. Holy brother Yako, this is Schlom Kalba from New York. What can I do for you? Tells him the story. Moshe couldn't come. Says, "Momish is unbelievable. It's a nace. I was supposed to be in Dallas for Lak Mo, but the show got cancelled in the last minute. And how could I go with Lak Mo the holiest day of the year without a place to sing to my brothers and sisters? But uh Yakov, we got to talk. So says small kumit, small sh, we don't have a big budget. I can offer you $500. Says, brother Yakov, I haven't played for $500 since my bar mitzvah. Schlomma, I don't know what to tell you. All I can tell you is that I'm ready to go all over town, hang up poster. Schlomma Kabak's coming to Buffalo, and whoever comes to the door will charge admission and you can have whatever we pick up at the door. Schlomakaw says, "Okay, it's a deal." Comes to Buffalo, does the show, sings till the wee hours of the morning, sings his heart out. People love it. behavior was so happy because that day, that night, at that show, they collected $2,000 at the door. And he went to Schlommo after the show and he said, "Shalom, I'm so happy. You can't believe it. Here's a package." He gave it to him in an envelope. $2,000. Schlommo was so happy. Mama should follow. After the show, people were talking to Schlomma, lingering around. Finally, everyone had left. Schlomma was about to leave and a young man comes over to him and says, "Shalomma, I need to talk to you for a second." Schlommo says, "Sure, sure. What can I do for you?" Says, "Shalom, I need a braha." Well, what do you need a braha from me for? I need a braha for shalom bay. What's the matter? Why do you need a braha for shalom bay? He says, "Well, I recently became a balchuva and because of that, I lost my job because I wouldn't work on chabas and panas is very hard and my wife is is very upset. She's struggling with it." Shama stuck his hand into his pocket, took out the whole envelope. He said, "Here, you take it." This was the tadic the great [Music] of all that's left to say really is that we can be sure his nishama is still singing but to mamish the very highest audience in the whole world [Music] of we [Music] smallest. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Yeah. Heat. [Music] Hey, [Music] she [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Thank you very much. [Music] I can't tell you how wonderful it is to spend an evening here on stage and not have to sing any of my own songs. But the main reason we're here tonight is to pay tribute to the settlers of they inspire us all with their strength and resolve with their amuna with their unshakable faith in the kazal mentioned in the very first rashi in the Torah. I wrote this song during a trip to Aritzel about 5 years ago and I've never performed it. But tonight, I'm proud to introduce it in honor [Music] [Applause] of I am but a little tree that only seeks to live in peace, to spread my seed upon the earth, and fur my roots within the soil of the land my father gave to me. And his father gave to [Music] him made by the father of us [Music] all. But the woodsman with an axe held in his hand said, "It's my sacred duty to clear away this land." And on this place that I call home, I will plant a field of stone. I am a little tree that only seems to live in peace. to spread my seed upon the earth. And for my roots within the soil of the land my father gave to me and his father gave to him by the father of God while the sly fox of cool and remote. I cannot be distracted by the blood stains on my coat. I can feel the wood's pain. Perhaps the tree should not remain. I am a little tree only cease to live in peace to spread my seed upon the earth from my roots within the soil of the land [Music] glory of a soul. [Music] Oh, heat, heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] at the door. I have so far away said it's in my best interest to see the small tree stay. No, it needs not like I but when I let it stay alive. I am the tree that will cease to live in peace to spread my seed upon the earth. And from my roots with the sword of the land my father gave to me. and his father came to [Music] him. May by the father [Music] of the storm and wind may come, I'll bend but never break. And like all those before me, I'll stay true to my faith. Let's come a day when we gather my [Music] [Applause] shon and for my roo of the land my father gave to me and his Father came to him. [Music] My [Music] father is truth that seed to the living peace to spread my mercy upon the earth and for my roots when in the soil of the land my father gave to me and his father gave to [Music] him. Made by the father of us. Made by the father of [Applause] Thank you. Thank you very much. As many of you know, I am a reluctant performer and truth be told, when I was first approached to be a part of this concert, I really had no intention of participating. Right now, I'm very happy that I have. But then I received a call from the director of the kron fund. Her enthusiasm, her passion, her downto-earth sincerity, her love for the cause were so compelling that I simply could not refuse. She together with her ish are truly the heart and soul of the fund. And we want to take a moment to acknowledge this with an award presented to them by ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome to the stage Judy and Josh. This is a complete surprise. [Music] Keep going. Keep going. Let's go. [Applause] preceded preceded by a beautiful quotation smile from Michon couple of valor award to Judy and Josh Gman for bringing the patriarchs and matriarchs from Chevron to Jews around the world and for bringing Jews around the world to the patriarchs and matriarchs in Chevron. May Hashem bless you and all your loved ones forever. Congratulations. Yeah. Speech. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Oh, heat, [Music] heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Yeah. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Applause] Heat. [Music] Yeah. [Music] [Applause] Heat. Yeah. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Yes. [Music] I Yeah. [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Oh, you keep [Music] [Applause] [Music] Oh, heat, heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Oh, heat, heat. [Music] I I my life I I [Music] am [Music] Yeah. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat up [Music] here. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] Ladies and gentlemen, we have a memor. Thank you very, very much for being here and supporting this wonderful cause. Good night. Thank [Applause] [Music] you. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] D [Music] Iing nal n [Applause] Yeah. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Yeah. [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Heat up here. [Music] [Applause] [Music] I la. [Music]