Country Yossi
Encyclopedia
Country Yossi is the name of a monthly, English-language
Orthodox Jewish
magazine, a radio show, a collection of musical albums, and children's books created, composed, authored, and published by Yossi (Joseph) Toiv, who took on the nickname
"Country Yossi" and then transferred it onto the magazine, radio show, musical albums, and children's books he published for the mostly Orthodox Jewish market in the United States
.
area, which he pioneered. The show has been on the air continuously since 1986.
, and Shauli.
Others have noted that Toiv stuck to his Orthodox Jewish beliefs even though he works and presents in a light-hearted and amusing fashion:
were published in the 1990s. Issues pertaining to Orthodox teens dropping out
of yeshiva
s were noted on the Shema Yisrael Torah Network
.
Country Yossi promoted the music of Shlomo Carlebach, the "singing rabbi" as author Yitta Halberstam attests:
The magazine's ratings of top selling English-language Judaica books tracks recent publications of interest noted by Judaica book publishers, including Rabbi Daniel Feldman (Yashar Books) and Tova Mordechai (Urim Publications
).
. The NCSY youth organization promotes Country Yossi music.
Among Toiv's recordings are six albums under the name Country Yossi and the Shteeble Hoppers, three albums as a member of "The Or Chodosh" ("The New Light") circa 1971-73, and a series of five albums for children called Kivi and Tuki. Two animated Kivi and Tuki DVDs have also been released. Through Country Yossi Productions various new releases are composed and marketed: "Moisheleh" Mumbai Tribute
, "Country Yossi and the Shteeble
-Hoppers."
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Orthodox Jewish
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
magazine, a radio show, a collection of musical albums, and children's books created, composed, authored, and published by Yossi (Joseph) Toiv, who took on the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"Country Yossi" and then transferred it onto the magazine, radio show, musical albums, and children's books he published for the mostly Orthodox Jewish market in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Country Yossi radio show
Toiv, going by the name of "Country Yossi" on radio, is the host of the light-hearted, Orthodox Jewish radio program "Country Yossi Show" in the New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
area, which he pioneered. The show has been on the air continuously since 1986.
Country Yossi Magazine
In 1988, Toiv began publishing a monthly magazine entitled Country Yossi Magazine, which has printed over 3 million copies. Working with Heshy Walfish, he has released 14 humorous music albums on Orthodox Jewish themes.Promotion of new musical talent
Through his magazine and radio show, Toiv has promoted the careers of many singers and entertainers catering to the Orthodox Jewish market, including Dovid Gabay, Avi Newmark, Yacov Young, Shua Kessin, Yossi Green, Eli GerstnerEli Gerstner
Eliezer Gerstner , is an Orthodox Jewish singer, songwriter and producer.- Personal life :Gerstner was born in 1980. He is married to Chani Schreiber...
, and Shauli.
Others have noted that Toiv stuck to his Orthodox Jewish beliefs even though he works and presents in a light-hearted and amusing fashion:
Another Orthodox songwriter, Country Yossi (Yossi Toiv), who got his name from his Jewish parodies of country tunes, takes a no-nonsense approach to Jewish practice. His song "Cuz I'm a Jew" (set to the tune of Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
's "I Walk the LineI Walk the Line"I Walk the Line" is a song written by Johnny Cash and recorded in 1956. It was performed with the help of Marshall Grant and Luther Perkins, two mechanics that his brother introduced him to following his discharge from the Air Force. Cash and his wife, Vivian, were living in Memphis, Tennessee,...
") includes the line, "Oh once a year I twirl a chicken over my head/ and it wouldn't be that bad if it were dead/ and there's a time when I go outside and burn my bread/ cause I'm a JewJewsThe Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
I do that too.
Articles of interest to Orthodox community
The monthly Country Yossi magazine gears itself to the interest of its mostly English-speaking readership. Many types of topics are discussed and often controversial issues are broached by its writers, a few of whom are notable rabbis in their own right. Various articles relating to the controversy surrounding Chabad messianismChabad messianism
Chabad messianism, or Lubavitch messianism, is a term used to describe a spectrum of beliefs within the Chabad Hasidic movement regarding their late leader Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson and his purported position as the Messiah...
were published in the 1990s. Issues pertaining to Orthodox teens dropping out
Dropping out
Dropping out means leaving a group for either practical reasons, necessities or disillusionment with the system from which the individual in question leaves....
of yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s were noted on the Shema Yisrael Torah Network
Shema Yisrael Torah Network
The Shema Yisrael Torah Network is a group of websites dedicated to spread Jewish thought, halakha and other material through the World Wide Web, Email and written material....
.
Country Yossi promoted the music of Shlomo Carlebach, the "singing rabbi" as author Yitta Halberstam attests:
Yossi Toiv, a courageous and creative man, has published many of the controversial articles that I wrote for his magazine. Among those articles was a lengthy piece about Reb Shlomo [Carlebach], and it was the warm and enthusiastic reaction of the heimisheHaredi JudaismHaredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
public to that piece that helped spur my decision to write the book.
The magazine's ratings of top selling English-language Judaica books tracks recent publications of interest noted by Judaica book publishers, including Rabbi Daniel Feldman (Yashar Books) and Tova Mordechai (Urim Publications
Urim Publications
Urim Publications, an independent publisher of Jewish interest books, is based in Jerusalem, Israel with an outlet in Brooklyn, New York.Established in 1997 by Tzvi Mauer, Urim publishes approximately fifteen books per year on various topics related to Jewish tradition.In addition to Urim’s status...
).
Country Yossi music and songs
Toiv was a pioneering Jewish composer and singer in the modern Jewish song genre according to popular Jewish singer Mordechai ben DavidMordechai ben David
Mordechai Werdyger , professionally known as Mordechai Ben David or MBD for short, is an American Hasidic Jewish singer and songwriter popular in the Orthodox Jewish community. He has been referred to as the 'King of Jewish music'. He has produced many popular Jewish albums over the past 40 years...
. The NCSY youth organization promotes Country Yossi music.
Among Toiv's recordings are six albums under the name Country Yossi and the Shteeble Hoppers, three albums as a member of "The Or Chodosh" ("The New Light") circa 1971-73, and a series of five albums for children called Kivi and Tuki. Two animated Kivi and Tuki DVDs have also been released. Through Country Yossi Productions various new releases are composed and marketed: "Moisheleh" Mumbai Tribute
Nariman House
The Nariman House , renamed as Chabad House , is a five-story landmark in the Colaba area in southern Mumbai, India. The building was home to a Chabad house, a Jewish outreach center run by Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg, and they have owned the Building since around 2006. The center had an...
, "Country Yossi and the Shteeble
Shtiebel
A shtiebel is a place used for communal Jewish prayer. In contrast to a formal synagogue, a shtiebel is far smaller and approached more casually. It is typically as small as a room in a private home or a place of business which is set aside for the express purpose of prayer, or it may be as large...
-Hoppers."