A Tribute To My First Rov
Many people know of Rav Elya’s famous twin brother, Rav Shlomo Carlebach. In fact, I also found Rav Elya through Rav Shlomo’s reputation, but it is Rav Elya whom I will always consider my first Rav.
Rav Elya and Rav Shlomo were born in Vienna in the late 1920s to a prominent and wealthy Rabbinic family. Their father, Rav Naftoli Carlebach, moved the family to Germany for the sake of his sons’ education, but by the 1930s, they had immigrated to America, early enough to have escaped the war. Rav Naftoli Carlebach established a shul on West 79th Street in Manhattan, which is now run by his great-grandson, Rav Elya’s grandson, Rav Naftoli Citron.
Rav Naftoli Carlebach was not Chassidish, but when his sons grew older, they became close to the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Rav Elya married the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s first cousin, Hadassa, may Hashem bless her with a long and healthy life. They had children and he established his own shul in Staten Island. He became an expert on all types of Chassidus and published an encyclopedia of Chassidus, respected in many different kehillos. I like to
