Might comedians Modi and Elon Gold be today’s most powerful teachers of Jewish identity?

It may have been an evening of comedy that had the audience rolling, but the hysterically funny material actually educated several thousand people in one swoop about Gemara, Israel, Zionism, Hebrew, issues of antisemitism, Jewish hIstory and current affairs. The laughter woke the crowd up about a diverse Jewish culture,—Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Persians, Israelis, Haredim, Jewish mothers, fathers, gays, transgenders and interfaith partners.

Comedians Modi (Mordechai Rosenfeld), who has lit up the Jewish world globally with his monologs, Elon Gold, Michael Rapaport and Ariel Elias performed two shows this week at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles. There were sell out crowds. Given our realities right now, all those Jews walked out smiling, laughing, looking happy. When was the last time any of us saw that? So did the non-Jews —-who were asked to raise their hands during the performance. (Comedy isn’t designed for the easily offended or politically correct.).

The experience left me with one big question as someone who has been marketing Jewish life for many years, both internally to Jews, such as Jewish educational institutions, and externally to the world, such as defending Zionism: Could comedy be one of the most powerful and convincing ways to educate people about Jewish identity, and all its complexities? Should comedy be incorporated into Day Schools, afternoon schools and adult education? Should it be a component of the Communication strategies of the Jewish People, propping up the global battle we are so devastatingly losing at this stage?

Should some Jewish foundation be using their money to create a syllabus and train a cadre of Jewish comedians who could serve as breakthrough educators and communicators? It’s not such an insane proposition. Many foundations are funding the medical clown industry in Israel, which sends clowns into pediatric wards in Israeli hospitals. Studies have proven that it’s a runaway success, contributing to mental health and healing.

Comedy has been one of the most pervasive ways that Americans learned about Jews, creating a positive image, which led to massive acceptance. These comedians are loved by Jews across the spectrum: John Stewart. Groucho Marx. Joan Rivers. Billy Crystal. Jerry Seinfeld. Jacky Mason. Joan Rivers. Rodney Dangerfield. Mel Brooks. Lenny Bruce. George Burns. Gilda Radner. Don Rickles. Milton Berle. Jerry Lewis. Jack Benny. Albert Brooks. Roseanne Barr. Mort Sahl. Seth Rogen.

Comedy is in our DNA. And yet we’re not using it when we need it most. Maybe it’s our edge? In education, for engaging students in learning. And certainly in our narrative of how we portray ourselves to the world. Have you seen BDS, Hamas, Jewish Voices for Peace and If Not Now using comedy? Millions of dollar of research has been conducted since October 7th about how the Jewish community should communicate successfully to the world. Among the conclusions almost every research study draws is the we need to make Jewish people, including Israelis, relatable. They have to see us as human beings just like them. Nothing can make us more relatable than comedy, telling our stories with humor, making people laugh with us. Laughing together is a great bond. And for students, a great motivator.

Unfortunately, I’m not about to tell a joke. I know how this goes. Jewish leaders are now going to line up against this suggestion claiming how foolhardy it is. “It’s never going to work.” So, how much is actually working? As comedian Elon Gold said during his act, “I went to twelve years of yeshiva education and I can’t speak any Hebrew.” And proof is everywhere, every day, how our global communication about Jews and Zionism is failing.

Did you hear the one about the Jews who are afraid to take a risk and try something completely unexpected?