Shooby Doob Shloimy ready for barmy

SUZANNE BELLING

PHOTOGRAPH: SARA BRACHA SAMOWITZ

Pictured Mark Samowitz and Helen Heldenmuth, creators of Shooby Doob Shloimy, with some of the children in the cast of the upcoming Chanukah concert, Gavi Mindel (front) and (back) Netanya Mindel, Liron Mindel and Jordan Milner.

The brainchild of television producer and drama coach Helen Heldenmuth and Cantor Mark Samowitz, formerly of the Victory Park Shul, the idea was born at the Johannesburg Zoo at a charity function when Mark gave a lift to Helen to the venue in a golf cart in the pouring rain.

“I was sick and tired of all the violent heroes such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and looked around for a Jewish hero,” said Helen.

After she heard Mark sing she knew she had found her hero. “My Hebrew name is Shlomo and so we named our star Shooby Doob Shloimy,” Mark said.

The two began their practice of sitting up through the night at Helen’s piano, with Mark composing the music and Helen penning the lyrics.

Shloimy developed into a well-loved and recognisable character, who regularly goes to every Jewish day school in South Africa as well as travelling to Australia, London, at least seven cities in the United States where his three albums – on the Pesach seder, Shabbos from candle-lighting to Havdalah and on mitzvoth became best-sellers.

The fourth album will be “A day in the Torah way” covering the Jewish way of life from opening one’s eyes to going to bed at night. “This is to mark the barmitzvah year,” the two said.

Their album on Shabbos was performed in conjunction with the Shabbos Project.

Mark can identify with the children, having been head boy of King David Victory Park. Mark trained with the late famed Eve Boswell and studied under Jonathan Birin, one of her senior students. Apart from being a chazzan in Johannesburg, he has also conducted services in New York, Florida (US) and Perth.

Helen, who was deputy head girl of Waverley Girls’ High, went from being a teacher at several schools, directing school plays (which she still does) to founding the Jewish programmes on the ghost channel on M-Net. She was then approached to become director of religious programmes on SABC.

Known for her outrageous humour – live and on radio – when she was telephoned for an interview to join the SABC (she was overseas when she took the call), the SABC interviewer seemed satisfied – until he asked her age (she was 54 at the time).

“Oh no, you are too old for the position,” he said.

Quick off the mark Helen asked if he thought Nelson Mandela was too old to be running the country!

“You are too smart, you’ve got the job!” was the reply.

Part of the proceeds of their Shooby Doob Shloimy performances goes to charity.

“Shooby Doob teaches the kids how to be a mensch, having good middos, how to love oneself and to (work towards) bringing Moshiach,” Mark said. “Many of the cast of our early shows are today parents of the kids in today’s productions