Shlomo Carlebach (musician) - Legacy and Influence

Legacy and Influence

According to Rabbi Jonathan Rosenblatt, Carlebach "changed the expectations of the prayer experience from decorous and sombre to uplifting and ecstatic as he captivated generations with elemental melodies and stories of miraculous human saintliness, modesty and unselfishness."

During his lifetime, Carlebach was often relegated to pariah status, marginalized by many of his peers. Because in his yeshiva years he had excelled in Talmud studies, many had hoped that he would later become a Rosh Yeshiva or a similar figure; many harbored ill will toward his chosen path in music and outreach.

In the years since his death, Carlebach's music has been embraced by many faiths as spiritual music. His music can be heard today in synagogues, Carlebach minyanim, churches, gospel choirs and temples worldwide. Many musical groups state that they draw inspiration from Carlebach and his music including Matisyahu, Chaim-Dovid Saracik, Sam Glaser, Benyamin Steinberg, Moshav Band, Soulfarm, Reva l'sheva, Naftali Abramson, Shlomo Katz, Eitan Katz, Gili Houpt, Yehuda Green, Aharon Razel, Kol Yaakov and others. Various community leaders and rabbis were influenced by him; these include Rabbis Meir Fund, Naftali Citron, Nosson Schafer, Avraham Arieh Trugman, Avi Weiss and others.

A musical written about his life, "Soul Doctor", by Daniel Wise was presented as a limited engagement off-Broadway in 2008 and in New Orleans in 2010, and was received with critical acclaim. The musical had a 3 week run at New York Theater Workshop in Summer of 2012. A documentary film about Carlebach directed by Boaz Shahak, "You Never Know," was released at the Jerusalem Film Festival, also in 2008.