New York – Rare Carlebach Guitar On Auction Block Tomorrow

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    REB SHLOMO CARLEBACH’S GUITAR. Yamaha Taiwan, model G-150A. With accompanying capo and neck-strap. with Original carrying-case.New York – Twenty one years after his death, a guitar that is said to have belonged to Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach is headed to auction, much to the disappointment of his daughter Neshama.

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    The guitar is being put up for sale for $10,000 to $15,000 by Kestenbaum and Company, an auction house that specializes in fine Judaica.

    The current owner of the guitar, Rabbi Yehoshua Book, said that he received the guitar from Carlebach, who he described as a “long treasured friend” as well as a “fellow music enthusiast and composer.”

    According to the auction catalog, the Carlebach guitar is a Yamaha Taiwan model G-150A and comes with a capo, neck strap and carrying case. The guitar is described as heavily scratched by guitar picks because of Carlebach’s energetic playing style and the blue velvet lined case, adrorned with travel stickers, is reinforced heavily with silver and black duct tape.

    Rabbi Book, who hails from the Modzitzer dynasty which is known for its music, said that he met Carlebach as a child in the early 1960’s and that he was gifted with the guitar in 1979 because of the close relationship he shared with Carlebach. At the time he received the guitar, Carlebach told Rabbi Book, “Without my guitar, I am bereft. I am as a guf beli neshama.”

    Letters of authenticity from Rebbetzin Chanita Raz and Rabbi Itzik Eisenstadt, who was known as Carlebach’s “assistant brother,” specify that the guitar is authentic and had been given to Rabbi Book. The guitar is being sold for financial reasons.

    “I am not doing this with happiness. I am very sad, but now I have money problems with my family and my special projects in my community,” said Rabbi Book. “I’m not happy to do it, believe me. If there was another way I’d do it.”

    Neshama Carlebach told The Times of Israel that Rabbi Book never contacted family members about his decision to offer the guitar up to the public.

    “Basically, these people claim they have my father’s guitar and they have decided to sell it,” Neshama Carlebach said. “Apparently there is a document that is witnessed and they are saying it is legit. I don’t know what I believe one way or the other, and frankly was a bit dismayed that they chose not to discuss this with the family at all.”

    The guitar is being offered as part of a larger auction featuring books, manuscripts, graphic and ceremonial art and will be held at 3 PM tomorrow.


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    8 Comments
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    8 years ago

    Glad that Rabbi Book was given the guitar and it was not given to Neshama Carelbach. Reb Shlomo Carelbach was a great man and his Holy guitar was used for playing music to Hashem, and never defiled by using it for playing music for Avoda Zarah namely singing gospel music in a Baptist church. What a great tragedy and chilul Hashem it would be if that Holy guitar landed in the hands of Neshama Carelbach. Because if it did she would disgracefully be using it to play gospel music in a Baptist church where she has been singing in the past.

    8 years ago

    Um I’m sorry neshama but it wasn’t given to you. If you’d like you can bid on it like anyone else.

    LionofZion
    LionofZion
    8 years ago

    I only wish I had $10,000 laying around to buy this guitar for Neshama, but maybe someone else does. Shlomo was a great man, the greatest man, but sometimes that detracts from being the greatest father. Until you have been in Neshama’s shoes you have no right to judge her.

    sissel613
    sissel613
    8 years ago

    I so wish that I was able to bid on this guitar—I miss Shlomo tremendously–he had so much ruchneyus to him. I miss his music and the twinkle in his eye. May he be a meilitz yosher for his daughters and grandchildren and for all of us.

    TanachGuy
    TanachGuy
    8 years ago

    I cant understand what her complaint is. Her father gave his super-fan a gift. What does that have to do with her? Is her complaint that her father didn’t give it to her? Why should she have been contacted? She cant authenticate it – he used it before she was born. Seems anyone may bid for it – so can she.

    TanachGuy
    TanachGuy
    8 years ago

    what should she have been contacted for? can she authenticate or disprove something used before she was born?