BEST OF: Comedians, ft Howie Mandel, Tiffany Haddish, Modi Rosenfeld, and Yohay Sponder

BEST OF: Comedians, ft Howie Mandel, Tiffany Haddish, Modi Rosenfeld, and Yohay Sponder

From Being Jewish with Jonah Platt by Jonah Platt // Jewish Identity, Culture, and Current Events

August 18, 2026 · 32 min · Season 2

About this episode

Four Jewish comedians discuss their experiences and how they incorporate their identity into their comedy.

How do four Jewish comedians find their voice and turn their experiences into comedy? Howie Mandel shares why the stage is where he feels most calm, present, and in control while navigating mental health struggles. He also opens up about being proud of his Jewish identity despite not being highly observant, saying Kaddish for a year while touring by requiring shows to start after sundown so he could pray with a minyan, and the lessons he learned about tzedakah and helping those in need.  Tiffany Haddish tells us about how comedy literally saved her life. She also talks about her time working as an “energy producer” at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, studying Judaism with Rabbi Susan Silverman, and celebrating her 40th birthday with a Bat Mitzvah alongside the release of her comedy special Black Mitzvah . Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder explains how performing comedy in English shaped his material about Jewish and Israeli identity, why comedy can communicate what traditional PR cannot, how audiences differ between Israel and the U.S., and why he calls touring his “reserve duty.” Modi Rosenfeld explains why he considers himself a “Jewish comedian,” reflects on being one of the last…

People in this episode

Host: Jonah Platt

Guests: Howie Mandel, Tiffany Haddish, Yohay Sponder, Modi Rosenfeld

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