New Age is everywhere

B"H

New Age Breslov Graffiti



Sorry, but many extremely modern Chabadnikkim who only later joined Chabad seem to me rather like a New Age Clan than belonging to a serious chassidic group. The same with those Breslover Chassidim who join the "Na Na Cult" and put a huge white Kipa with the "Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'uman" on their heads. Although their spiritual leader, Rabbi Israel Odesser, died some years ago, the Na Na Cult is quite successful. At least in Jerusalem.



They especially attract many society outlaws who suddenly see their future in the movement. But why not ? The only problem is that the original serious Breslover from Mea Shearim look down on them and don't take them serious at all.
Anyway, this is a wide subject and books could be written about the internal streams within Breslov; especially between the "real born" Breslovers and the Baalei Teshuva (who joined later).

Breslover New Age Logo



Today we see many Chabdnikkim as well the "Na Na followers" singing and dancing in the streets. But don't expect Klezmer tunes. Instead they like to take modern pop songs and turn them into something religious with religious texts. Texts which are easy to remember and remain in your memory for a long time. Call it "great PR". Everybody can join and dance to Rabbi Nachman songs or the songs of the Chabad Meshichistim "The Lubawitscher Rebbe is the Meshiach".

I can more or less understand the modernity of outreach today. The groups want to attract newcomers and they seem to be quite successful. However, there is one modern movement I cannot really tolerate. It is just nothing for me and whenever I see them, I try to escape as fast as I can. The movement is calling itself "neo – chassidic" but has nothing to do with serious chassidic groups. Rather it is more for the real freaks and hippies. There is nothing worse than the Carlebachers.

A real Carlebacher would definitely not call himself "a Carlebacher" but a "follower of Shlomo".
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach used to be a Chabadnik for many years until he split away and started his own outreach program. Most of us know the famous melodies he composed which are extremely popular until today. But Reb Shlomo also had a very bad habit and therefore other rabbis, especially the haredi world, rejected him. Shlomo liked to give everyone a hug and when I say "everyone" I also mean the women. Many people, even female followers, still claim that it wasn't always a hug but also more. His true followers, on the other hand, don't stop admiring him, no matter what. And they still claim that Shlomo didn't just write his songs but received the melodies from the upper spiritual worlds.

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach



Today you can find plenty of Carlebach Shuls and Carlebach Minyanim all around the world. One small synagogue in Jerusalem became quite famous among the Anglo population. "Kol Rina" in the Nachlaoth neighbourhood. "Kol Rina" is located in a bomb shelter and when you climb downstairs, you will get to a room which rather looks like a leftover from the hippie movement in the 70ies. There are even mattresses just in case you feel like laying down and receiving Shlomo's voice from the upper world.

Nevertheless, "Kol Rina" is very successful and most new immigrants from the States, the UK, etc. stream there every Shabbat. If you are familiar with the Carlebach – Style you can probably imagine that, in case you join, you will have a late Kiddush. Due to the Carlebach clapping, the service takes ages.

The ones who usually cannot stand "Shlomo and his clan" are the Haredim. "Reb Shlomo wasn't a Rabbi but only a singer", a chassidic friend of mine once said. There were even times when Reb Shlomo walked through Mea Shearim and Chassidim started spitting at him. Everyone can have his own opinion about Reb Shlomo and the Carlebachers. One thing is for sure: Despite his very open hippie style, he succeeded a lot in Kiruv. Many Jews found their way into orthodox Judaism davka through him.

However, from what I see in Nachlaot today, the New Age followers become more and more weird. It is not only the clothing style but the whole mentality is strange. As soon as they start talking you only hear "Shlomo, Shlomo, Shlomo". It can be that I am too conservative and like to concentrate on more serious chassidic groups or movements. But even if not, the Carlebachers are definitely not my cup of tea.

Reb Shlomo in Action