©2000-2010 Diane Wolkstein / Cloudstone Productions, New York City. All rights are reserved.
Celebrating Our Mistakes
Stories and Songs from the Jewish Tradition
Shlomo Carlebach & Diane Wolkstein
"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 worlds 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
Diane Wolkstein: A Storyteller’s Story
"In her commitment to storytelling as both a communal experience and an inner journey, Diane Wolkstein has delighted thousands. This film offers a glimpse of the path she has followed, opening doors onto wonder. The interviews, the storytelling and Wolkstein's artistic journey will inspire everyone who seeks to understand and honor story in our multicultural world."
Laurence J. Kirmayer, M.D., Director, Division of Social & Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal
"A Storyteller's Story shows us how story lives within our days, as vital as our breath — sustaining, companioning, transforming our lives. It is a valuable resource for anyone using story in community or therapeutic settings. Within the house of story, Diane is artist–in–residence."
Elizabeth Anthony, Art Therapy Coordinator, Centre for the Arts in Human Development, Concordia University, Montréal
"A Storyteller's Story is the only film I've seen that documents the extraordinary career of a master American Storyteller. Beautifully told, this film needs to be seen by every student of education in the country. It will inspire and challenge young educators to integrate storytelling into their class work as a way to impart the values and wisdom that young people crave but rarely receive at their schools."
Barbara Kirshenblatt–Gimblett, Director, Performance Studies, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University
"It's long been said that the real world is cobbled together with stories and not just atoms. This marvelous film about Diane Wolkstein, the consummate storyteller, reveals the wisdom behind those words. I heartily recommend this documentary to everyone who is searching for the deeper patterns that connect us all."
Phil Cousineau, author of Once and Future Myths and The Hero's Journey
"Wolkstein's work as a storyteller celebrates the world's great masterpieces of oral literature. It also gives us an honest insight into what is behind the art of storytelling: research, dedication, courage and craft. Excellent for multi–cultural studies, mythology, ancient histories, and religion; highly recommended for high schools for suggesting alternate career choices; or for middle schools and libraries as part of book talking or book club programs — especially for groups reading one of Wolkstein's twenty–three books."
Kaye Lindauer, Librarian, Lecturer at Chautauqua Institution
"Great stories have the power to transform us all. In this rich and vibrant film, we travel with master storyteller Diane Wolkstein, on her own journey of transformation through stories. It is a surprising, joyful, and illuminating adventure."
Barbara Abrash, Director, Center for Media, Culture & History, New York University
"This excellent film offers wise and practical insights into the art of storytelling from a teller, collector and interpreter of stories who has had a profound impact on storytelling in America."
Rita Auerbach, librarian
"A Storyteller's Story"...so inspiring! I've always loved stories, oral
histories, etc. and it was great to see your journey in this work.
I am in a helping profession and I really must tell you, the power of
stories are like no other...even more at times than therapy. Especially for kids. I told one of my clients, an 8-year-old girl, the story of Tipingee and she loved it. It was such a way to connect. That really struck me on your DVD, when you told that same story at a school, and one of the boys who never spoke finally opened up with that story. Better than I do in my job at times! Your work evoked change and connection in so many ways, and continues to do so. I guess that is my point, so please keep it in mind if you get discouraged!
Warm regards,
Irene Ilachinski
