Jewish, Muslim stand-up comedians to share stage at ‘Comedy for Peace’
Jewish and Muslim stand-up comedians will share a stage this March in Milwaukee.
Started by an Israeli immigrant to New York, the “Comedy for Peace” show has toured the country with the aim of bringing people of different faiths together for laughs, not politics.
“You will learn that we are more similar than different by the end of the night,” said Dotan Malach, founder of the project.
Malach, who is Jewish, said he rarely encountered Muslims in daily life while growing up in Israel. It was only when he traveled elsewhere that he befriended Muslims and decided comedy could be a good way to reach across the divide.
The “Comedy for Peace” project began in 2019, but organizers had to cancel shows during the pandemic. The Milwaukee show on March 1 is the first of a threestop Midwest tour.
It’s also part of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s “Month of Dialogue,” a series of events focused on having “deep, thoughtful and civil” conversations about Israel and interfaith issues.
The comedy event is a fun, non-serious way to build bridges with people of different faiths, said Uria Roth, the Milwaukee community shaliach, or Israeli emissary to the Jewish Federation.
“Some perspective can only come from someone who’s from the outside,” Roth said.
The Milwaukee show will feature stand-up sets from four comedians plus a question-and-answer session.
Malach, whose English stage name is Erik Angel, will perform. The others are:
Tehran Von Gasri, whose background is Black, Persian, Muslim and Jewish.
Reem Edan, an Iraqi-American comedian, writer and actress who calls her brand of humor “Muslim-ennial.”
Steve Marshall, a Jewish-American comedian, actor and writer based in New York.
The event takes place at 7 p.m. March 1 at Cardinal Stritch University’s Kendall Theater, 6801 N. Yates Road, Fox Point. Admission is free, but registration ahead of time is requested at
milwaukeejewish.org/israelinmil waukee.