The festival, which will commemorate ten years since the death of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (of blessed memory), is aimed at continuing the Rabbi’s legacy of bringing together multiple segments of Israeli society to celebrate “the joy of being Jewish in the Land of Israel.”
Rabbi Carlebach, or “Reb Shlomo” as he was fondly referred to by students and acquaintances, founded Moshav Me’or Modi’im in 1976, in the hills between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It is situated near the new city of Modi’in, and is adjacent to the site of ancient Modi'im, where the Chanukah story began 2200 year ago.
A small group of young American Jews, veterans of the 60s, settled there, “celebrating the Maccabean victory over assimilation, and rededicating themselves to the pure Jewish values of resettling and cultivating the Holy Land, learning Torah, and bringing up their families in the Chassidic ideals of peace and joy,” according to founding member BenZion Solomon.
Although crowds have always flocked to the Moshav for Shabbat, both before and after Reb Shlomo passed away, the community has always been liveliest on Jewish holidays. This Sukkot, residents hope to welcome the entire Jewish people to their Moshav in hopes of bringing all segments of Israeli society together and administering what production manager Michael Golomb calls “acupuncture of the soul.”
“Shlomo had a magical ability to bring the Jewish people together,” recalls Golomb, “and today, as an incredible spiritual awakening takes place in Israel, it is his music and way that has the potential to bring about a great healing for our people.”
The festival will feature, on a main stage, musicians who used to play with Carlebach, with leading artists of the new ‘Redemption Rock’ genre playing on other stages scattered throughout the lush Moshav. Yehuda Katz, of famed Jewish jam-band Reva L’Sheva, is the musical director of the festival, bringing with him experience from several world tours and festivals. There will be art programs for children, crafts from Israeli artisans on sale, natural healing booths and Torah study seminars as well.
Originally the festival was to charge for admission, with proceeds going to charity. Now, however, Golomb says that every effort is being made to make it admission free, in order to allow everybody to attend, regardless of financial means.
“We are still looking for people who want to open their pockets and take part in this awesome, holy project,” says Golomb, who hopes the festival will make a difference by creating ‘facts in the ground’ in the form of individuals that receive the message of the Carlebach Moshav and ‘pay it forward.’ “I hope everybody wakes up the next morning, and can’t wait to meet their neighbor to say ‘good morning’ – that spontaneous dancing breaks out at families’ breakfast tables, and that those who are poor wake up with hope and those who are rich awaken with a desire to give,” says Golomb, who acknowledges that he retains the ideals of the 60s in his quest to perfect the world.
“What we are doing here is attempting to unite the hearts and souls of the Jewish people,” says Golomb. “There are head people making decisions for us, and heart people intuitively knowing what our people need to do; we need to bring those people together and remind them that we are one tribe.”
Most of the founders and residents of Moshav Modi’im are olim (immigrants) from the Unites States. Golomb believes that American olim play a major role in the spiritual and national re-awakening going on in Israel today. “Western free market capitalism raises people to know that their small initiative can truly have a huge effect,” says Golomb. He hopes that many of the new immigrants arriving in Israel during the current wave of North American Aliyah (immigration to Israel) will join in his work. “My blessing for them is to never, ever, ever give up their dream,” says Golomb. “Never.”
For more information or to offer assistance, email: Michael@TheMoshav.Israel.net
Rabbi Carlebach, or “Reb Shlomo” as he was fondly referred to by students and acquaintances, founded Moshav Me’or Modi’im in 1976, in the hills between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It is situated near the new city of Modi’in, and is adjacent to the site of ancient Modi'im, where the Chanukah story began 2200 year ago.
A small group of young American Jews, veterans of the 60s, settled there, “celebrating the Maccabean victory over assimilation, and rededicating themselves to the pure Jewish values of resettling and cultivating the Holy Land, learning Torah, and bringing up their families in the Chassidic ideals of peace and joy,” according to founding member BenZion Solomon.
Although crowds have always flocked to the Moshav for Shabbat, both before and after Reb Shlomo passed away, the community has always been liveliest on Jewish holidays. This Sukkot, residents hope to welcome the entire Jewish people to their Moshav in hopes of bringing all segments of Israeli society together and administering what production manager Michael Golomb calls “acupuncture of the soul.”
“Shlomo had a magical ability to bring the Jewish people together,” recalls Golomb, “and today, as an incredible spiritual awakening takes place in Israel, it is his music and way that has the potential to bring about a great healing for our people.”
The festival will feature, on a main stage, musicians who used to play with Carlebach, with leading artists of the new ‘Redemption Rock’ genre playing on other stages scattered throughout the lush Moshav. Yehuda Katz, of famed Jewish jam-band Reva L’Sheva, is the musical director of the festival, bringing with him experience from several world tours and festivals. There will be art programs for children, crafts from Israeli artisans on sale, natural healing booths and Torah study seminars as well.
Originally the festival was to charge for admission, with proceeds going to charity. Now, however, Golomb says that every effort is being made to make it admission free, in order to allow everybody to attend, regardless of financial means.
“We are still looking for people who want to open their pockets and take part in this awesome, holy project,” says Golomb, who hopes the festival will make a difference by creating ‘facts in the ground’ in the form of individuals that receive the message of the Carlebach Moshav and ‘pay it forward.’ “I hope everybody wakes up the next morning, and can’t wait to meet their neighbor to say ‘good morning’ – that spontaneous dancing breaks out at families’ breakfast tables, and that those who are poor wake up with hope and those who are rich awaken with a desire to give,” says Golomb, who acknowledges that he retains the ideals of the 60s in his quest to perfect the world.
“What we are doing here is attempting to unite the hearts and souls of the Jewish people,” says Golomb. “There are head people making decisions for us, and heart people intuitively knowing what our people need to do; we need to bring those people together and remind them that we are one tribe.”
Most of the founders and residents of Moshav Modi’im are olim (immigrants) from the Unites States. Golomb believes that American olim play a major role in the spiritual and national re-awakening going on in Israel today. “Western free market capitalism raises people to know that their small initiative can truly have a huge effect,” says Golomb. He hopes that many of the new immigrants arriving in Israel during the current wave of North American Aliyah (immigration to Israel) will join in his work. “My blessing for them is to never, ever, ever give up their dream,” says Golomb. “Never.”
For more information or to offer assistance, email: Michael@TheMoshav.Israel.net