In late sixties, there was a great awakening in world. Thousands of youth took to streets, Jews and Non Jews, yearning for a deeper meaning to life and its experiences. Many were disenchanted with society, materialism, war, civil rights, lack of respect for human life and destruction of environment to only to name a few. This is when Reb Shlomo Carlebach Zt"l came on scene to "turn on our love lights" and give over his Torahs to world, but this also time when Jerry Garcia who left us this week, came to share his.

Was late Jerry Garcia Jewish? Besides a few rumors that have circulated about is being from Marrano descent answer, as we understand it, is no. What then would bring us, an orthodox minyan in L.A., to honoring a guitarist with a devoted following of hundreds of thousands in world community?

To begin in answering these questions Talmud says following: 'Pious ones of all nations have a share in World to Come. I call heaven and earth to witness that Divine Spirit rests upon each person, Jew or gentile, man or woman, master or slave, in consonance with one's deeds'. If this is so, then how can we not, as a community devoted to bringing more love, harmony, and ultimate oneness into world, honor lofty, compassionate soul that is now waking up to morning dew in Heaven.

Still, central reason behind our honoring late Jerome John Garcia, known as Jerry, is that to an exceptionally large handful of us in chevra (circle of friends), Jerry played a vital role in being mekarev us (making us closer) to deeper dimensions of life that we did not know exist. As for those of us who already were aware of these altered states of it was at a Dead show that it could all be realized and celebrated. In fact, anybody who has ever dared to dream about type of dancing that will take place in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) when Great Day arrives might have already tasted it at a show, thanks to Jerry.

For many of us who had later come around to discover Yiddishkeit (Judaism). reason why we felt so much at home with Yiddishkeit and especially, Hassidiut (Teachings of Hassidic masters), was because it was as if we already understood its song without ever really having learned words. Thanks to Jerry, of course, there seemed to be a familiar message ringing in our ears when studying mystical works of Baal Shem Tov, Rebbe Nachman. Levi Yitzchok, Ishbitz, Zusya, Elimelech, Schneerson and Carlebach. In fact, message was clearly calling us to "Wake up to find out that we were eyes of world" and that "once in while you get shown Light in strangest of places, if you look at it right". And in strangest way, as for many of us, it was Jerry who was our very first rebbe! A rebbe who did not give over his words, as much as he did his essence . Words, Reb Shlomo Carlebach would often teach us, are finite. It's what's behind words, essence, that connects us to infinity. For many of us. it was Jerry Garcia's essence, as given over through his music, that served as our significant channel to infinity.

So just as any Grateful Yid has obligation to honor his/her own rebbe. it is our obligation to honor late Jerry Garcia for one of basic principles of Jewish faith is concept of Hakarat Hatov.

The mitzvah of Hakarat Hatov is act of acknowledging goodness that someone has done for you, and doing your utmost to reciprocate that goodness, even if you might have outgrown teacher, path, or way of life.