Customer Reviews

Holy Beggars Banquet

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As the editor of the original Holy Beggars' Gazette (1972-77), it is wonderful to see these stories and teaching made available again. Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (1925-1994) was truly a great teacher and his stories have touched a multitude of souls around the world.The stories and teachings in this book originated from a special and spiritual period in San Francisco 25 years ago around the House of Love and Prayer founded by Shlomo Carlebach. Thousands of people passed by and they all received from Shlomo and his community of holy beggars. Shlomo was between 45 and 52 years old during this period and many of the seekers who visited are now that same age... Read these teachings and be moved by the simple wisdom - Chassidic Jewish wisdom expressed in stories... Shlomo, we miss your holy presence. May new souls continue to be touched by your stories and teachings. Steven Maimes

Along with creating the music which much of the Jewish world davvans with today, Shlomo was a master creator in other ways. He was a master storyteller and teacher, whose deep knowledge of Torah and especially Hasidut enabled him to answer the longings of his contemporaries with wisdom deep from the Tradition.

A Shlomo story has a message, usually one of faith and of the miraculous powers of the Divine , and of the goodness within the Jew and human being, when we are good to others. These stories collected devotedly by Kalman Serkez are a wonderful introduction to the whole world of Shlomo - storytelling. A couple brought me back to my own education in the stories of Shlomo given his great student and my own beloved teacher, David Herzberg. In the words of the Shlomo people David was in telling a story or in just being a friend as he was to so many others, the highest of the highest, the very best.

How often does a book speak to us in our rituals, our daily conversations with God, our history and our future. All of this is achieved in this beautiful book. Each story to be savored, reflected upon and then shared. I cannot tell you how powerful is the secret of these stories but they are yours to discover. May we all be inspired and inspire.