Shlomo Carlebach

Shabbat dinner with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach usually involved at least 50 people, maybe many more, according to his daughter, the singer Neshama Carlebach. It was Reb Shlomo’s custom to make kiddush and then pass around his wine, even if symbolically, to make sure that everyone had even a drop of the sanctified wine.

I remember the wet stones. When I lived in Jerusalem for a year, I spent Fridays slipping all over the place. In the hours before sunset, the Old City’s enchanting stones became slip-and-slides as young boys bearing buckets of water glazed the timeless stairways and passages, giving the holy city the last bath just before Shabbat.

I left out any mention of Debbie Friedman's romantic history in my farewell piece. (Correction: Debbie Friedman was born in 1951, not 1952 as reported).

 I spoke about this topic with Debbie enough times to know that she wasn't interested in that aspect of her private life being discussed in print.