Eli Chaim Carlebach


Eli Chaim Carlebach was a rabbi and spiritual leader.

Biography

He was born in 1925, to Hartwig Naftali Carlebach and Paula Cohn. He was the twin brother of Shlomo Carlebach. The Carlebach family is a notable Jewish family originally from Germany that now lives all over the world. He studied at Yeshiva Mesivta Torah Vodaas, in Brooklyn, NY.
On March 16, 1949 he married Hadassa Schneerson. The wedding was attended by many great rabbis, including Rabbi Eliezer Silver. His father in law was first cousin to the 7th Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who said the first 2 blessings under his wedding chupah.
His daughter Sterna Citron wrote a book about her fathers stories.

Career

After his father's death in 1967, Eli and his brother assumed the position of spiritual leaders of the Congregation Kehilath Jacob, the landmarked "Carlebach Shul," located in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The synagogue was famous for its worshippers, young and old, female and male, traditional and liberal who participated in services there.
His grandson, Rabbi Naftali Citron, is the current Rabbi there.
He was also the rabbi at the Hillside Jewish Center in New Jersey.
He died of a heart attack at the age of 65.