Uncle Moishy and the Mitzvah Men

Uncle Moishy and the Mitzvah Men is a Jewish American children's edutainment phenomenon that is featured in both audio/video as well as live concert formats. [ [http://www.paramuspost.com/calendar/event.php?eid=20080711145503293 Paramus Post August 28, 2008] ]

Basis and origins

Moshe Tanenbaum is a Hassidic Jew who stars as "Uncle Moishy" who leads his "Mitzvah Men" in song and verse that espouses the observant religious lifestyle of Orthodox Judaism. [ [http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/801_sj_super_7.htm Something Jewish, May 2, 2004] ] 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 Ethics of Our Fathers, such as helping others and being nice. [ [http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0704/wandering_jews.php3 Jewish World Review, July 7, 2004] ] His style has been compared to that of Mister Rogers or Captain Kangaroo.

The project began in Toronto, Canada in the late 1970s. The original band members were Tanenbaum, Zale Newman, and Chaim Shainehouse. [ [http://www.jewishjournal.com/united_states/article/world_briefs_20030711/ The Jewish Journal, July 10, 2003] ] Shainehouse left early on, while Newman remained and appears on some of the CDs. The group has produced 14 audio albums and 10 videos to date. [ [http://www.israel-music.com/uncle_moishy/ IsraelMusic.com] ]

Merchandising and style

His tapes, CDs and videos are sold in most Jewish music and Judaica stores around the world. While Uncle Moishy is based in New York City, he has traveled internationally, giving shows in Israel, Canada, England, South Africa and Hong Kong. His concerts are very well received by observant Jewish children and their families. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01E7D71431F934A1575BC0A9669C8B63 New York Times, August 27, 2000] ] [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400EEDD1E38F933A25750C0A9669C8B63 New York Times, March 10, 2000] ] [ [http://www.thejewishweek.com/viewarticle/c343_a3496/News/New_York/Neighborhoods.html The Jewish Week, June 9, 2000] ] [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/world/middleeast/02orthodox.html?ei=5088&en=da7b9af9c1815a49&ex=1352178000&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all New York Times, November 2, 2007] ]

Characteristic songs are "Give a Little Tzedakah" and various tracks encouraging keeping kosher. For example, the following is an excerpt from one of his songs (sung partially to the tune of "Ten Little Indians")::"Throw away your ham and bacon":"I won't eat it, you're mistaken.":"I'm a Jew and I'm not fakin"':"I eat only kosher.":"So every time you're in the market,":"Only get food with the kosher sign on it.":"It's good for me and its good for you":"And what do you know: Hashem loves it too!"

Uncle Moishy is not Tannenbaum's main occupation, and when not entertaining children, he works as a wedding and portrait photographer.

References