Celebrating Our Mistakes

Stories & Songs from the Jewish Tradition
Shlomo Carlebach & Diane Wolkstein

Cloudstone, New York City, DVD and VHS, 2004
Running time: 56 minutes
ISBN 1–879846–18–7

Celebrating Our Mistakes was performed live at New York City's American Museum of Natural History in September 1994. It was an electric evening, as well as the last recorded performance of Shlomo before he passed away a month later. Shlomo, known as The Singing Rabbi, wrote thousands of songs and is renowned as the most popular Jewish song composer of the 20th century. Diane Wolkstein, the author of 23 books of folklore and mythology, has delighted thousands of children and adults worldwide with her storytelling workshops and performances. (More information about Diane can be read on the Biography page.)

Celebrating Our Mistakes is a moving program of universal stories of forgiveness, compassion, tolerance, and understanding.

A booklet with Diane's reflections on Shlomo and the performance is included with each copy of the video.

What the critics are saying…

"What a treasure! Diane Wolkstein, the master storyteller, uncovered a rare tape of a concert that she and Rabbi Shlomo, the master of song, gave shortly before Reb Shlomo's untimely death. It is an hour of the best of both worlds: stories and songs woven together to enchant and inspire."
Ari L. Goldman, professor at Columbia School of Journalism (The Search for God at Harvard).

"Celebrating Our Mistakes is so alive that I felt I could touch everything… the evening is superb! Diane tells with grace and passion as if she were dancing. Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, like Meister Eckhardt, brings a sense of joy and great warmth. A rich, moving spiritual work that celebrates life, bringing peace to the listener."
Jay O'Callahan, The Pill Hill Stories.

"When I first watched this video, I cried the whole time. So rarely are my family and I (and the world, for that matter) blessed to re–witness such an inspirational and memorable evening. My beloved father looks so beautiful and is so honored in this video; I know that every person who sees it will experience the amazing feeling of what it was like to be in his exalted presence. We all need to learn from and rejoice with our mistakes, to remember the messages that Diane and my father remind us of — no matter how empty, lonely and broken we are, when we open our hearts to holiness and joy, we will always find the answers…"
Neshama Carlebach, singer/songwriter.

"An evening of songs and storytelling with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Diane Wolkstein must have seemed like a marriage made in heaven to the audience of 800 who came to hear them at the American Museum of Natural History in 1994. Indeed, it was an extraordinary event. This pairing was miraculously preserved on video and has now been released, ten years later, after extensive — and highly successful — restoration. Like a lost memory that returns with astonishing clarity, we are present as two of the world’s greatest Jewish storytellers exchange tales with each other, accompanied by Rabbi Carlebach’s intensely soulful songs. Those who were present at the time understood this was a historical event, and those who are fortunate enough to view this concert DVD will certainly understand why."
Howard Schwartz(The Tree of Souls: The Mythology of Judaism).

"A rare DVD that takes viewers of all ages to a profound and joyous spiritual experience. The spontaneous rapport between Carlebach and Wolkstein illuminates the wisdom and warmth of Judaism."
Barbara Abrash,, Assistant Director, New York University Center for Media, Culture, and History.

"What a wonderful celebration of the two sides of the poetic spectrum. Enjoy this momento of holy moments!"
Rabbi Zalman Schachter–Shalomi, lecturer at Naropa University (Wrapped in Holy Flame).

"...This remarkable DVD ends too soon, but it is still enough, because it is filled with enlightening, profound stories, heart–stirring chants, 'heavenly whistling,' and more from both Reb Shlomo and Diane Wolkstein. Reb Shlomo leaves his audience that night, just a few dozen days from the day that he died, and says, 'How good it is to be alive.' He then says, 'I bless you that every minute of your life you should be alive.'… Had this DVD done nothing more than to offer that blessing to all of us, it would be enough…"
Arthur Kurzweil, Parabola, Volume 30, no. 2, Summer 2005.

Dear Diane:

The DVD arrived yesterday. When I came [home] from work (I'm a journalist for a newspaper), I found it — and looked at it two times. Than I called a friend to come — and we saw it togehter. I cried — so great was the joy.

You must know, that I was for 18 years a professional singer (Jazz, Gospel, chanson), and nearly 30 years ago, I met Shlomo in Bad Bevensen, a little town in the north of Germany. I was engaged there to open his program togehter with my guitar player. Shlomo arrived more than 90 minutes after the concert started, so that we two young kids had to entertain a great audience, who was waiting for him, not for us.

I was sweating as never in my life before. When he entered the stage, he kissed us (we had never met before) — and when we tried to leave the stage, he held us back, because he wanted us to do his concert part with him. It was terrifying — and wonderful! One of the most important nights of my life. I am no Jude, I'm a Christian — but we met spiritually on a level, where God is alive and mankind finds real peace and the greatest songs.

That concert changed my whole singing — and we met a few times again. He knew every record I made — and he became a kind of older brother for this young German singer. Ten years later, when I did a record together with Miss Coretta King, he wrote me the most wonderful letter I have ever received.

So you see, this DVD brings back an important part of my life.

What you do with your very special kind of storytelling, so warm and wise and wonderous, is like a super–present, that somehow Shlomo handed me from eternity. He is still my guide.

My heart is full and overflowing, but my English is poor. I hope you understand, what I want to tell you. THANK YOU VEEEERRRRY MUCH.

Biggest Greetings and the gratest Shalom to you,

Jan Vering.