American comedic star and TV-movie veteran Michael Rapaport returned to Israel for a three-city stand-up comedy tour over Sukkot as part of the Comedy for Koby tour.
The shows featured Rapaport, special guest Israeli comedian Ben Ben Baruch, and host Avi Liberman, marking the 25th anniversary of the Koby Mandell Foundation.
Particularly since October 7, Rapaport has emerged as one of the most passionate and outspoken pro-Israel advocates in the face of an entertainment industry where defending Israeli and Jewish interests has become increasingly rare. His distinctly brash New York style brought him before appreciative Israeli audiences in Herzliya, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv.
Liberman said Rapaport was a natural fit for the tour: “My vision has always been to bring the comedy world’s best performers, but also people who will take their experiences in Israel and help spread the positive and true messages about this country upon return home.
“Few people fit that model better than Michael Rapaport,” he continued. “We’re all excited to see him on stage, allowing us to salute a true modern-day Jewish hero who never fails to say what is true even when it comes at a cost.”
The 25th anniversary tour commemorates the organization’s years of service on behalf of Israeli families who have lost loved ones to terror attacks and other tragedies. Named for Koby Mandell, the 13-year-old boy killed in a brutal terrorist attack in 2001, the foundation was one of the first Israeli organizations to focus its activities on the social rehabilitation of young people in the face of tragic loss.
Founded by Rabbi Seth Mandell and his wife, Sherri Mandell, after their son’s murder, the foundation’s basic concept was to ensure that other families who have had to deal with such devastating and life-altering events would be able to have a support network built by others who had personally experienced similar tragedies.
The association with Comedy for Koby began at a meeting between the Mandells and Liberman, when they recognized that comedy and joy would be an ideal way to memorialize a son.
“This tour has become a huge source of pride and comfort for our family because it has turned our personal tragedy into a reason for people to come out, enjoy themselves, and laugh,” they said.
“It’s been extraordinary to witness so many top comedians perform here and then return home with a better understanding of what Israel is really about.”