His zeide loved connecting with other Jews and so does he_— through digital age albums and scouting out raw talent that no computer can replace,
T he elegant Manhattan restaurant doesn’t offer rolls or bread on the table but Yossi Rubin asks for them just the same. After he returns from washing he apologizes.
It’s been several years since he produced the Amen V’amen album using a collection of songs to celebrate Bircas Hamazon. “But working on that connecting with the words and hearing how the various singers interpreted them gave me a new appreciation for bentshing. I try to wash whenever I can.”
Like so many others Yossi’s musical journey began during bein hasedorim in yeshivah. Growing up in Bnei Brak he learned in the Bobover yeshivah which happened to be located next door to the studio of Reb Chaim Banet the famed Seret-Vizhnitzer composer. “I was fascinated by the comings and goings and during lunch break I would hang out by the door trying to get a glimpse inside.”
A resourceful fellow Rubin eventually talked his way in and learned the first rule of belonging: Make yourself indispensable. “I helped out offering to do anything until they let me come in whenever I wanted. I was just a kid but I got to learn a lot about the industry from watching from listening to the conversations.”
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