Reb Zalman Has Gone Home

Last updated on: March 10, 2015 at 10:02 am by Cathleen Falsani

Rebbe Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Founder of the Jewish Renewal and Spiritual Eldering Movements. Rabbi of my rabbis. At the Aspen Peace Conference in November 2008. Photo by Cathleen Falsani.

News just reached me that Reb Zalman (Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, one of the founders of the Jewish Renewal Movement and my rabbi’s rabbi) died this morning in Colorado.

He was a magnificent human being, one whose light and wisdom and grace shaped the lives of two of the most important people in mine: Rabbi Allen Secher and Rebbetzin Ina Albert.

Several years ago, I spent a few magical days with Reb Zalman in Aspen and celebrated Shabbas with him at a Peace Conference — a ritual he invited all to participate in, as was his way, including an imam who was also in attendance at the conference. It was one of the more consciously transcendent experiences of my life, for which I ever will be grateful to the Rebbe.

May God comfort those who knew him best, and may his light and love emanate forever.

We transmit our wisdom to future generations. This process not only seeds the future, but crowns an elder’s life with worth and nobility.

~ Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi

Learn more about Reb Zalman and his legacy HERE.

Reb Zalman and Imam Mohammed at the Aspen Peace Conference, 2008. Photo by CF.

Reb Zalman giving Shabbas challah to Imam Mohammed Bashar Arafat at the Aspen Peace Conference, 2008. Photo by CF.

Shabbas wine and candles at the Aspen Peace Conference, 2008. Photo by CF.