5 Jewish Stand-Up Comedians to Keep Your Eye On

1. Yohay Sponder

Proudly naming his newest show, “Self-Loving Jew” Yohay Sponder wears his Star of David on his chest. Literally a silver dollar sized Magen Dovid hangs from a chain the way stereotypical gangsters wear dollar sign bling. Yohay has a brutish sort of bite, someone you could find yourself getting into a drunken bar fight in an Irish pub… in Tel Aviv. Only for him to invite you for Shabbat dinner afterwards.

The bilingual comedian has performed all over the world but his home is Israel. And that infuses every ounce of his stand up. Whether he’s clarifying the true definition of Zionism or detailing his experiences with airport security pat downs, he steers into controversy while truly believing comedy is the “perfect antidote for even the toughest of times”.

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2. Talia Reese

@taliareesecomic
26.7K IG followers

Talia has made some major life changes. Becoming religious later in life may not have been as big of a shift as transitioning from bankruptcy law to stand-up comedian, but sure enough Talia has seen success from both choices.

The former attorney has shared the stage with the likes of Caroline Rhea, Gilbert Gottfried, Jim Gaffigan and other famous comedians. She’s also been featured in many media outlets including her appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Wendy Williams Show, and more.

When she’s not on stage she cares family like any other observant, half-Bucharian mother of two, i.e. preparing Kosher for Passover snacks for a full day at Disneyland.

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3. Shahak Shapira

@shahak
328K IG followers

Born in Israel, Shahak Shapira is German with Arab roots. His maternal grandfather was a Holocaust survivor. His paternal grandfather was on the Israeli Track and Field team in 1972 and was murdered in the Munich Olympics massacre. Shahak also grew up in Laucha, Germany, a strong-hold for the Neo-Nazi political party. So of course, Shahak is a stand-up comedian.

Shahak’s comedy is both intimidating and disarming the only way a German Jew could pull off. He’s confrontational and charming at the same time. He frequently takes audience questions, singles out non-Jews during his routine (in good fun), and isn’t afraid to take a moment to talk passionately about something important such as the Amsterdam riot. He manages to break down the barrier between stage and audience in a personal and hilarious way. In his own words, “I travel the world doing comedy for people who are nothing like me to see if they might be anything like me after all.”

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4. Tori Piskin

@toripiskin
98.3K IG followers

Tori’s from New York. If her accent, clothing choices, and general aura didn’t give that away, wait 30 seconds and she’ll mention it over and over again. In the best and funniest way possible. Tori may look like a harmless little Jewish redhead, but she is a hustler. She’s worked alongside Pauly Shore, Judy Gold, and Michael Kosta and was a writer on Netflix’s Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year.

In addition to stand up, her BFF is none other than her mother, with whom she hosts the popular podcast series, Got It From My Mama. She writes, produces, directs, and acts in every conceivable medium including about her struggles with Lyme Disease.

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5. Ben Kirschenbaum

@benkirschenbaum
5.7K IG followers

Ben Kirschenbaum is a New York City based stand-up comedian and writer. He’s written for MTV, Clickhole, and seriouslyTV. He’s been featured in the New York Comedy Festival and he released his first special “Best Picture” on Mark Normand’s YouTube in 2024.

Ben’s style has a distinct attention to nuance and clever wordplay. His bits about Scotch and the origins of HIV are too raunchy for me to recommend on this Jewish website, but I spent the whole time thinking, “How have I never thought about that!” He’s the normal guy you’d meet at a party, only to find he’s making you laugh your head off at all the most random and mundane things around you.