Thread by @TzviAlperowitz

🧵On R Shlomo Carlebach's tumultuous relationship with Lubavitch:

Born to a German Rabbinic family, Shlomo first encountered Lubavitch when his father brought him & his brother Elya Chaim to the Frierdiker Rebbe in 1936.

Sitting on each side of the FR, he blessed them:

"May you be Chassidic Jews. Not German Boys."

“Be sure to sleep with your Tzitis at night, and remember to bentch from a Siddur."

Years later Shlomo said he still sleeps with his Tzitzis, though often forgets to bentch from Siddur.

Pictured, The FR & the Rebbe at the time.

Immigrating to the US in 1939, the Carlebach's arrived a year before the FR.

Joining thousands to greet the FR's arrival, the Carlebach boys waited on the pier as their father went inside to meet the FR.

Seeing Shlomo's father, the FR said: "I noticed your boys on the pier".

On Shabbos, the Carlebach’s would walk from Williamsburg to Crown Heights where Shlomo's father was a Rabbi.

Shlomo, davening instead in 770, became acquainted with the (future) Rebbe.

At this time, Shlomo & EC left Torah Voda'as to become founding students of Lakewood's BMG.

While excelling as one of Lakewood’s top talmidim, Shlomo would often visit 770, always trying to catch a conversation with the Rebbe.

“He’d ask me about the Shiurim. And we would discuss the Gemara”.

“I was essentially his Shliach (to Lakewood)”, Shlomo recalled.

Shlomo & Elya Chaim’s relationship with Lubavitch wasn’t well received in Lakewood, & they explored moving to 770.

However, their parents weren’t very fond of their boys learning in a Chassidic Yeshiva.

In an incredibly sharp letter, the FR writes to Rabbi Carlebach:

“When you brought EC & Shlomo to me in Vienna, I blessed them to study Torah in a G-d fearing manner. Hashem has fulfilled my blessings... In return, I demand that you allow your sons to learn in Tomchei Temimim.."

Following this, EC moved to 770. Shlomo however, stayed in BMG.

EC’s wife related that leaving BMG didn’t go down very well.

“My mother-in-law knew a gvir who gave a sizeable yearly contribution to Lubavitch, so she pressured him to withhold his contribution [as long as her son was studying there].”

EC was soon notified to leave 770.

In a telling letter from 1947, The FR writes to Shlomo:

“In response to your letter in which you complain that your parents are forcing you against your will regarding learning. Pay no attention to it. May Hashem be with you.”

The following year Shlomo comes to study in 770.

From Hillel's "timeline of Jewish Life at Brandeis":

“1949 - The 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe sends Rabbis Shlomo Carlebach & Zalman Schacter to Brandeis to spread Chabad’s message. They arrive during a Chanukah party & engage students in conversation about Judaism & theology."

When the FR passed away in 1950, Carlebach was drawn to the new Rebbe.

“When I would speak with him, I felt like he knew me through and through, to the deepest depths”, Carlebach recalled.

Pictured, Shlomo speaks with the Rebbe at the Farbrengen on 24 Tevet, 1952.

The Rebbe soon tasked Shlomo with bringing others closer to Yidishkeit.

“I was so busy with learning that I wouldn’t think about others,” Shlomo recalled.

“But the Rebbe told me to forget about myself for a moment. He gave me a new Neshoma.”

“Suddenly, other Jews mattered”.

For the next few years, Shlomo was very active in the Chabad outreach scene.

Deep in thought, Shlomo attends the 1951 “Wednesday Hour” convention; a program that teaches Jewish Studies in NY’s public schools, to thousands of children who otherwise receive no Jewish education.

On the Subway late one night, R Shlomo met a Jew who was about to intermarry, & convinced him to come see the Rebbe. They arrived at 3am.

“The Rebbe washed out his Neshama”, Shlomo recalled. “We left 770 at 7am".

In this photo R Shlomo brings a group to the Rebbe (early 50's):

In 1954, R Shlomo was hired by producer David Ross as an advisor for “the Dybbuk”.

“Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach . . . was not sure whether he would accept the position . . . He indicated he would make no further comment until he discussed the matter with Rabbi Schneerson. .”

At the C.F.J.E. Convention that year, R Shlomo was the guest speaker:

“...Rabbi Carlebach went on to relate how Rabbi Schneerson concerns himself with the spiritual safety of each Jew, from child, to the very old...” (Convention Minutes).

Pictured, R Shlomo at the head table.

But R Shlomo’s work with Lubavitch was short-lived.

Shlomo told the Rebbe that adhering to certain Halachos was holding him back from reaching more Jews.

But the Rebbe didn't buckle: To represent Lubavitch one must follow Shulchan Aruch.

So Shlomo went on his own way…

For the first few years, Shlomo would still come back to the Rebbe, and would send his new ‘mekuravim’ to Lubavitch.

Pictured, Shlomo stands with the Rebbe at the wedding of R Moshe Levertov in 1955, the year of his official ‘departure’.

But the drift slowly became greater…

In a 1958 letter, The Rebbe writes (paraphrasing):

We are taught: “Um’karvon Latorah”, we must lift people & bring them closer to the Torah. But we mustn't do the opposite and “bring the Torah closer to the people”. Who are we to pick and choose which halachos are relevant?”

Shlomo's departure from Lubavitch was painful to the Rebbe; and to this day, some Lubavitchers won't sing or play Carlebach songs.

However, it is to be noted that two of his songs were sung in the Rebbe's presence, & one of them received the Rebbe's strong encouragement.

When Chabad published “Sefer Hatmimim”, with entries for anybody who studied in Lubavitch, Elya Chaim sent in his information to be published in the book, and on the bottom included a heartfelt plea:

“Don’t forget about my twin Shlomo. His information is the same as mine!”

Shlomo always retained his great respect for the Rebbe.

Up until the 80's, Shlomo would often come to 770 for the Rebbe's larger farbrengens, standing in the back so not to attract attention.

R Shlomo was also a paid subscriber to the Rebbe's Sichos, receiving them each week.

When performing in Australia, the Rebbe sent a note to the Shluchim that Chabad mustn't participate in the concert whatsoever. But they should befriend him as an individual.

And befriend him they did. Pictured, R Shlomo farbrengs with the Shluchim in Australia (previous year).

In 1991, a friend of Shlomo’s approaches the Rebbe:

“Shlomo asks for a Brocho".

The Rebbe: Where is he now?

“In Toronto heading to Vienna...”

The Rebbe: This dollar should be given to charity on his behalf, for success in spreading yidishkeit, with good health and parnoso.

In a eulogy after 3 Tammuz, R Shlomo spoke:

“There’s been many gedolim over the generations. But there’s never been someone who cared for every Yid in a far corner of the world. There’s never been, and there never will be.

“And that’s what’s so painful,” Shlomo concluded.

6 years later in 1961 word still hadn't properly gotten out that Shlomo was no longer affiliated with Lubavitch.

Here's a rather surprising clipping from Atlanta's Southern Israelite from March 1961:

"Shlomo Carlebach, an authentic product of the Lubavitcher Chassidic movement"

Interestingly, here are 3 photos of Shlomo performing for Lubavitch of Michigan (late 80's?):