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Uncle Moishy and the Mitzvah Men

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Uncle Moishy and the Mitzvah Men
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
Years active1979 (1979)–present
Websitewww.unclemoishy.com www.unclemoishyworld.com

Uncle Moishy and the Mitzvah Men is a Jewish American children's educational entertainment group based in New York City, featured in audio and video releases, as well as appearing live in concert.[1] Their tapes, CDs and videos are sold in most Jewish music and Judaica stores.

Uncle Moishy has traveled internationally, giving shows in Israel, Canada, England, Austria, South Africa and Hong Kong.[2][3][4][5]

Lead musicians and singers Moshe Tanenbaum and Yossi Berktin are Hasidic Orthodox Jews who play "Uncle Moishy" and lead the "Mitzvah Men" in song and verse that expresses the observant religious lifestyle of Orthodox Judaism.[6] They focus on the religious aspects of Judaism that most easily relate to young children, such as the laws of Shabbat, kashrut and the giving of charity, as well as the good deeds of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers), such as helping others and being nice.[7]

Origins

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Milton Tanenbaum was born and grew up in East End, Toronto. His parents owned a grocery store. Tanenbaum went to Jewish school during his childhood. He started using the title Uncle in 1967 when his rabbi started referring to him as Uncle Milty, referencing the comedian Milton Berle who went by the same nickname. He started going by his Hebrew name, Moishy, at the suggestion of the Lubavitcher Rebbe during a farbrengen in 1975. There the Rebbe encouraged Jews to publicly go by their Jewish names. Despite not being Lubavitch, he heeded the advice and started going by Uncle Moishy.[8]

In 1979 his first album appeared in conjunction with the Jewish Education Program. The original band members were Tanenbaum, Zale Newman, and Chaim Shainhouse;[9] Shainhouse left early on, though he composed for and sang on the first few albums. Uncle Moishy is produced and managed by the Suki and Ding company. The group has produced 22 audio albums and 14 videos to date.[10]

Currently

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In 2017, following a dispute over the ownership of the Uncle Moishy character, Tanenbaum left Suki and Ding and produced his first solo album, Welcome, under new management, producers known as Sonic Duo.[11] The beth din of Machon LeHora’ah ruled that the songs and music of belong to Suki and Ding, both parties may use the name Uncle Moishy.[12][13] In 2018, the 'All New Uncle Moishy' Yossi Berktin, with producers Suki and Ding released the character's 19th album.[14]

In 2021, Moshe Tanenbaum in collaboration with Artscroll and Doni Gross released an 11-song album entitled We Are So Special and a children's book.[15]

References

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  1. ^ Paramus Post August 28, 2008
  2. ^ Galant, Debra (August 27, 2000). "JERSEY; Black Hats and Vice Presidents". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  3. ^ Graeber, Laurel (March 10, 2000). "Family Fare". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  4. ^ The Jewish Week, June 9, 2000
  5. ^ Erlanger, Steven (November 2, 2007). "A Modern Marketplace for Israel's Ultra-Orthodox". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  6. ^ "Something Jewish, May 2, 2004". Archived from the original on March 6, 2004. Retrieved August 29, 2008.
  7. ^ "The Wandering Jew, updated". www.jewishworldreview.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  8. ^ Gordon, Nachi; Langer, Yaakov (March 31, 2020). "The Story of Uncle Moishy | Meaningful People #2". Meaningful People (Podcast). Meaningful Minute. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  9. ^ The Jewish Journal, July 10, 2003
  10. ^ "MostlyMusic.com". Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  11. ^ "Uncle Moishy's New Music CD "Welcome"". Uncle Moishy's World - The Official Uncle Moishy Site. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  12. ^ "Bais Din Proclaims There Can Be TWO Uncle Moishys". The Yeshiva World. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  13. ^ Lev, Zvi (March 29, 2018). "Uncle Moishy and Uncle Moishy slug it out in court". Israel National News. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  14. ^ Music, Mostly. "Suki & Ding - Uncle Moishy Vol 19". Mostly Music. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  15. ^ "ArtScroll.com - Artscroll Uncle Moishy Series". www.artscroll.com. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
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