Michael Rapaport Makes Israel Stand-Up Debut at Jerusalem Theater

American actor and comedian Michael Rapaport made his long-awaited Israel debut on Sunday night, performing to a nearly sold-out crowd at the Jerusalem Theater. The 54-year-old Jewish New Yorker, known for his loud, brash humor and fierce defense of Israel since the October 7 Hamas attacks, brought his high-energy, often profane, style to the stage, much to the delight of the audience.

Rapaport, who has gained a reputation as one of Israel’s most outspoken celebrity supporters in recent weeks, didn’t hold back in his more-than-hour-long set. Despite the heavy use of colorful language, his performance was both sincere and thoughtful, clearly resonating with a crowd that was on his side even before he started.

Opening for Rapaport was local comedian Matan Peretz, who warmed up the audience with his Israeli charm and relatable humor. “If you typed ‘Israeli’ into an AI photo app, I’d be what they would give you,” he quipped, earning big laughs.

Rapaport kicked off his set by telling the audience to shut off their cell phones and their pagers, if anyone still had one. From there, his New York street style was in full swing, as he riffed on everything from the upcoming U.S. elections (“I could go down to the corner hummus stand and find two better candidates”) to parenting in the age of political correctness (“Make spanking great again!”).

One of the more poignant moments came when Rapaport reflected on his first visit to Israel in November 2023. He described his emotional experience visiting Kibbutz Be’eri, a site of atrocities in the ongoing conflict. The room grew silent as he recounted what he saw, demonstrating his ability to balance humor with genuine empathy. His quick return to comedy afterward was a testament to his skill, and the audience’s desire for levity amidst difficult times.

Some of Rapaport’s bits, such as his jokes about alimony and his crush on Rihanna, didn’t land as well with the Israeli crowd, feeling somewhat out of place. But when he tied his humor to current events like comparing terrorists to his own kids (“They’re terrorists, I hate them, they won’t leave... I’m talking about my kids”) he hit the mark every time.

Even if his set had missed the mark, the fact that an American celebrity came to Israel and performed in the middle of a war was enough to earn him a standing ovation. His presence on stage was a welcome morale boost during difficult times, and the audience clearly appreciated both his humor and his solidarity.

Rapaport is set to perform again in Tel Aviv on Monday night at Beit Hahayal, continuing his support for Israel during this challenging period.

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