Country in the Country 20140817

It's Country in the Country for Sunday, August 17, 2014.

And it's the last Country in the Country of the summer. Finally! Awwwww....

First we have to let you know, if you haven't already heard, about the winners of the Sullivan Renaissance Awards, originally announced last Monday. The winner of the $10,000 Community Mitzvah Award went to Camp Bnos Ahavas Israel in Liberty for beautifying its facility. Second place award of $5000 went to Khal Divre Chaim Bungalow Colony in Kauneonga Lake; while third place of $3000 was awarded to American Theological Camp in Kiamesha. Camp Simcha in Glen Spey received a special $5000 “Award of Excellence” as a role model for all institutions in Sullivan County. This contest included ten camps and bungalow colonies in Sullivan County. The three judges from outside the county were: Rabbi Joel Schwab of Middletown, Mary Lewis of Cornwall and our own Country Yossi Toiv of Brooklyn.

As for the show, we kicked of as usual with some Country Yossi music: "Shteeble People."

And "The Cover of the Jewish Press."

And then the calls and even more music: "Save Maftir for Me."

And then more calls, followed by Dov Shurin with the latest news from Israel.

We kicked off the second hour with some Kivi & Tuki music: "A Very Special Man."

And "Modeh Ani" and "A Boy Named Zlateh."

Up next: Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss and his gevaldigeh divrei Torah

And just as quickly as it began, it ended!

Have a wonderful rest of the summer, and watch this space for Country Yossi Family Magazine.

Country in the Country 20140810

It's Country in the Country For Sunday, August 10, 2014.

It's the penultimate Country in the Country show, and tonight Country Yossi welcomed back the music in a big way now that Shabbos Nachamu has come and gone, but not before we give you this important reminder:

You're invited to honor the volunteers who are improving communities throughout Sullivan County at the 2014 Sullivan Renaissance Awards Ceremony tomorrow, Monday, August 11. The event is being held in the Events Gallery at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with light refreshments; the program begins at 6:45 p.m.

The Awards Ceremony will recognize all of this year’s projects and award additional grants between $1000 and $25,000 to those judged the most successful in completing their beautification efforts. The winner of the contest for seasonal communities will receive Community Mitzvah Awards of $10,000, $5000 and $3000. Country Yossi will announce the Community Mitzvah Award winners on our last show of the summer next Sunday night.

Sullivan Renaissance is a beautification and community development program principally funded by the Gerry Foundation. Sponsors include Bold Gold Media Group/Thunder 102, FisherMears Associates, Kristt Company, Robert Green Dealerships, Sullivan County Democrat, The River Reporter, Thompson Sanitation, and WSUL/WVOS.

For information visit www.sullivanrenaissance.org.

Out first hour featured a plethora of Country Yossi music interspersed with phone calls. We heard: "Seven Little Kids," "Hello Mameh," "Nebich of the Shteeble" and "Phantom of the Shteeble."

And the ever-popular "Kurrybone."

In hour two, a special request from your humble podcaster (who wrote the lyrics,) "Is This the Way to Monticello" by Marc Hoffman and the Bungaloafers. Listen to it right here and download it for free by clicking the down arrow below: 

Then some more Country Yossi and the Shteeble-Hoppers music: "Tick Tock."

And from Country Yossi's latest album with The Shteeble-Hoppers, "I'm Proud to be a Part of Am Yisroel" and later in the show, "Elan Elan."

Our broadcast would not be complete without a visit from Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss and his gevaldigeh divrei Torah.

After that, a final sprint of quickie calls before we called it quits. And you called it a miracle.

Join us next week for one more summer show, if you can stand it.

Country in the Country 20140803

It's Country in the Country for Sunday, August 3, 2014.

Wednesday is Judgment Day! At least for the five finalists in the Sullivan Renaissance Community Mitzvah Award contest, and they are:

• American Theological, summer camp in Kiamesha
• Camp Bnos Ahavas Israel, summer camp in Liberty
• Camp Simcha, summer camp in Glen Spey
• Khal Divre Chaim, bungalow colony in Kauneonga Lake
• Skolya Bungalows, bungalow colony in South Fallsburg

Allen Frishman, who manages the Seasonal Demonstration Grant Program for Sullivan Renaissance, stopped by at the top of the show to remind us that on Wednesday, August 6, a panel of judges will select the winner of the Community Mitzvah Award from ten summer camps and bungalow colonies.

The three experts include individuals with horticultural, planning, community and international knowledge. 

• Mary Lewis – Founder of the garden design firm Barncroft, she served as a Sullivan Renaissance judge for nine years and a garden design consultant for two years; past president of Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties, past Zone Representative of Visiting Gardens Committee for Garden Club of America (GCA), and co-chairs GCA flower show “A Woman’s Hardy Garden” in Beacon.
• Rabbi Joel Schwab – Religious leader of Temple Sinai in Middletown, NY since 1982; President of the Greater Middletown Interfaith Council, where he helped create a winter Warming Station for street people; honored by Orange County Human Rights Commission (2007), United Way of Orange County (2009) and METNY Region of the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism (2011).
• Yossi Toiv – “Country Yossi” is the name of an English-language Orthodox Jewish magazine, radio show, collection of musical albums and children's books created, composed, authored and published by Yossi (Joseph) Toiv; the radio show has been on the air continuously since 1986; the monthly magazine has printed over 3 million copies since 1988.

Community Mitzvah projects are judged for cleaning-up and maintaining their grounds and beautifying the look of the facility.

Winning communities will be announced at the Sullivan Renaissance Awards Ceremony on Monday, August 11 in the Event Gallery at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, NY. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with light refreshments; the program begins promptly at 6:45 p.m. 

Community Mitzvah Awards of $10,000, $5000 and $3000 will go to the seasonal communities that best cleaned up and beautified their grounds.

Sullivan Renaissance is a beautification and community development program principally funded by the Gerry Foundation.  Sponsors include Bold Gold Media Group/Thunder 102, FisherMears Associates, Kristt Company, Robert Green Dealerships, Sullivan County Democrat, The River Reporter, Thompson Sanitation, and WSUL/WVOS.

For information, visit www.sullivanrenaissance.org.

After that bit of excitement, we heard some Three-Weeks appropriate Country Yossi music: "These I Remember."

Then some calls and the latest news from Israel with Dov Shurin.

Then some more calls to take us to the top of the hour.

We kicked off Round Two with some more a cappella music: Country Yossi's own "Deaf Man In The Shteeble" by Lev Tahor

A call or two, and then even more a cappella music! "Shalom Aleichem / Yesh Tikvah (Medley)"  by Ari Goldwag [feat. Moshe Dov Goldwag] From the Album A Cappella Soul 2

And keeping things all in the family, we had a well-dressed phone visit with the inimitable Murray Goldwag! Who? You may know him better as Murray the Sockman or the owner of Murray's Kosher Sox in South Fallsburg. And if you don't, you should!

We also had summer Sunday visit from Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss and his gevaldigeh divrei Torah.

And that was that. Have an easy fast, and we'll see you next week!

Country in the Country 20140727

It's Country in the Country for Sunday, July 27, 2014.

After a brief table of contents, we kicked things off with some Three-Weeks-friendly music: "Mimkomcha"  from the album Eli Gerstner & the Chevra: Sing Acappella

Then a little more a capella music while Country got the bugs out of the phone lines. (Is there a mashgiach in the house?) Another one from The Chevra: "V'hayu Limsheesa"

Next we heard from Dov Shurin with the latest news out of Israel. You can find his latest writings in The Jewish Press.

Then in our second hour, a return visit from R' Yoel Brill, and Ronny Biderman from A Hope to Heal.

If you forgot what you learned last week, here's a reminder about what they do from their website:

Our primary mission is to alleviate the short-term financial burden for adults and children stricken with acute serious illness by subsidizing their health insurance premiums. Other services include Health Care Advocacy, Medical Advocate Services, Support Programs, Health Awareness and Education.

We were also joined by Rabbi Shais Taub, the keynote speaker at AHTH's inaugural ladies luncheon

A few calls (including a long distance one!) before a little more a capella music: "Am Echad" by Ari Goldwag from the Album A Cappella Soul 2:

And still more a capella from who else but AKA Pella and "Etz Chaim"

And that slammed the lid on things for today! What will happen on next week's show? You'll have to tune in and find out!

Off The Wall: Proportionality

While I was watching and listening to the gnashing of teeth and wailing and moaning about mighty, powerful Israel’s disproportionate response to the current, ongoing campaign of terror being waged against it, by the poor, downtrodden Arab civilians, it suddenly occurred to me… they are right!

Let’s examine the situation logically. This latest madness began in earnest with the kidnapping and brutal murder of three innocent young Yeshiva boys, involved in nothing more dastardly than trying to get home to their loving families for Shabbat.

What is the impact on the Jewish people of these horrific crimes – crimes which are only one step on the road towards the oft-unambiguously-stated ultimate goal of annihilating the State of Israel along with the entire Jewish world population?

Well here’s where the math comes in.

The total number of Jews in the world is approximately 14,000,000, whereas the total world Muslim population stands at 2,080,000,000.

So if we were to respond proportionately, for every Jew killed, we should kill 149 Muslims. (1 divided by 14 million times 2.08 billion.)

As of this writing 27 Israelis have died. If we responded proportionately there would be 4,023 dead Muslims.

Everyone for proportionality – raise your hands.

Country in the Country 20140720

It's Country in the Country for Sunday, July 20, 2014.

Tonight was a very special Country in the Country show. But more about that momentarily.

As we're in the Three Weeks, we featured a cappella music. Tonight we heard:

Country Yossi's very own "Deaf Man in the Shteeble," as covered by Lev Tahor:

"Borchu" by Ari Goldwag:

And "Gam Ki Elech" from The Chevra

Then in our second hour, a heartwarming visit from R' Yoel Brill, Jeff Patow and Ronny Biderman from A Hope to Heal.

As their website says,

Our primary mission is to alleviate the short-term financial burden for adults and children stricken with acute serious illness by subsidizing their health insurance premiums. Other services include Health Care Advocacy, Medical Advocate Services, Support Programs, Health Awareness and Education.

But let those fine gentlemen explain it in their own words. And tell the women in your life about their upcoming inaugural ladies luncheon!

Then a delightful in-studio visit from Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss and his gevaldigeh divrei Torah, all about The Three Weeks.

Immediately followed by Dov Shurin with latest news out of Israel. You can find his latest writings in The Jewish Press.

And with that, the show disappeared just as quickly as it begain. Join us next week, won't you?

Country in the Country 20140713

It's Country in the Country for Sunday, July 13, 2014.

The Summer Fun continues, except for the two hours or so of Country in the Country! But let's overlook that little detail as we kicked things off tonight with some Kivi & Tuki music: "There is a Bracha."

And then came the phone calls, and some Country Yossi music: "Oh Yankel."

And then Dov Shurin checked in with the latest news out of Israel.

More calls, more music... "Shteeble People."

Who wants some more Kivi & Tuki music? How about "Who Knows One?"

Then Yossi loosened his collar and took some more callers. Then another summer Sunday tradition: Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss and his gevaldigeh divrei Torah.

And then some more Country Yossi music: "Little Kinderlach."

And that was almost it. But before we go, be sure to check out the latest weather forecasts from the National Weather Service as storms are a' brewin', and don't forget that Country Yossi will be among the judges as ten seasonal bungalow colonies and summer camps take part in a six-week long Community Mitzvah Award contest this summer, sponsored by Sullivan Renaissance. Three top prizes worth $10,000, $5000 and $3000 will be awarded to the participants that best clean-up and maintain their grounds and improve the look of their facilities.

Participants include:

• American Theological, summer camp in Kiamesha
• Camp Bnos Ahavas Israel, summer camp in Liberty
• Camp Mesivta Eitz Chaim, summer camp in Parksville
• Camp Simcha, summer camp in Glen Spey
• Camp Tashbar, summer camp in Liberty
• Far Site Bungalows, bungalow colony in Monticello
• Ichud Hatalmidim, bungalow colony in Monticello
• Khal Divre Chaim, bungalow colony in Kauneonga Lake
• Machne Gila, summer camp in Liberty
• Skolya Bungalows, bungalow colony in South Fallsburg

The contest began last month with participants making improvements to their grounds. Each camp is then observed on a weekly basis by data takers who record what can be seen from the road. The sites will be visited by a team of judges from outside Sullivan County in August and the winner announced at the Awards Ceremony on August 11.

All the participating camps and colonies will receive a $500 seed grant, and those that finish the contest will get a completion grant of $500. Each participant also receives two planting containers with flowers and instructions, which must be maintained throughout the contest. 

Campers and/or staff are also required to participate in an educational presentation and orientation by Sullivan Renaissance staff. All the participants will then be treated to kosher ice cream provided by an approved vendor for all the children involved in helping to maintain the property’s cleanliness.

Last year saw five participants in the contest, which was won by Skolya Bungalows on Route 42 in South Fallsburg. The goal of Sullivan Renaissance is to help guide communities to improve their visual standards.

For information about all of Sullivan Renaissance’s seasonal programs, visit sullivanrenaissance.org