Nellie Casman

Nellie Casman [Minnie Katzelman] (1893-1984)

Nellie Casman was born as Minnie Katzelman on 24 December 1893 in Proskurov, Russian Empire (now Khmelnytsky, Ukraine). Father, Leib Casman, was a Hebrew teacher.

She came to the United States in the 1904 and raised in Philadelphia. She played child roles until 1910, then appeared as a soubrette, mostly in Yiddish vaudeville. In 1918 she replaced Bessie Thomashefsky at the People’s Theater, playing opposite David Kessler. Her most  popular character was a "Little Cantor" in the Aron Nager's play "Dos Khazndl". Casman was especially known for her couplets, as well as shows, which she wrote with her first husband, Samuel Steinberg. In 1923 they wrote "Yosl Yosl".  This song became one of the most  enduring in the Yiddish repertoire and was popularized in English by the Andrews Sisters in 1938. 

Casman played later in English-language radio and television, and continued to perform Yiddish vaudeville well into her 70s. In 1973, she appeared in the film “The Adventures of Rabbi Jacob.” Casman also played the character Pathe during the eight-year run of the  television show “The Goldbergs,” and on the earlier radio version. She reprised this role in the 1950 film version.

Last years Nellie Casman lived in New-York where she died on 27 May 1984.

Alles Is A Bluff (Sam Klinetsky)

Chicken (Rubin Doctor)

78RPM

Columbia E7628

1922

Meine Sheine Mishpoche (David Meyerowitz)

78RPM

Columbia E7628

1922

Vi Lang Leybt Men (Samuel Steinberg)

78RPM

Victor 77269-B

1923

Vos Gevehn Iz Nishtu (David Meyerowitz)

78RPM

Columbia 8106-F

1926

Vu Zaynen Mayne Zibn Gute Yor? (David Meyerowitz)

78RPM

Columbia 8078-F

1925

Yosl (Samuel Steinberg - Nellie Casman)

Yosl (Nellie Casman)

Cyril Ornadel & The Starlight Symphony Orchestra

Yosl (Nellie Casman)

Alexander Tsfasman Orchestra

Joseph	*yosl*
*Samuel Steinberg - Nellie Casman*
My strength is slipping away I feel i cant go on My heart is always aching. I'm hot and cold, And im getting grey and old You all knows what's bothering me: Love is burning fearfully I fell I'm expiring For my Joseph, my darling, my dear Handsome fellow (May he be well) I'm dying for you! Oy oy oy Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, My life is slipping away without you Oy oy oy Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Your queen still sits and waits for you Oy oy oy Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, I dream only of you every night When temptation Beckons me again - Yosl, I'm dying for you!	mayn khayes geyt mir oys, ikh fil ikh halt nit oys, mayn harts tut mir vey gor on a shir es iz mir heys un kalt, un ikh ver groy un alt un veyst ir mentshn vos es kveylt mir di libe brent a shrek ikh fil ikh shtarb avek nokh mayn yoslen, mayn darling, mayn dear a bokher a sheyner mir zol zayn far zayne beyner, yosl, ikh krapir nokh dir! oy, oy, oy, yosl, yosl, yosl, yosl, oy, oy mayn khayes geyt mir oys on dir. oy, oy, oy, yosl, yosl, yosl, yosl, dayn malke zitst nokh alts un vart oyf dir. oy, oy, oy, yosl, yosl, yosl, yosl, ikh kholem yeder nakht nor fun dir, un git der yeytser hore mikh a mol a tore, yosl, ikh krapir nokh dir!
Jillian "Yidl" Tallmer

Last update 22-07-2026