Comic Michael Rapaport announces first two Israel performances
Comedian and actor to return to Israel following multiple missions; will perform in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Comic Michael Rapaport, who has emerged as a staunch voice for the hostages, Israel and the American Jewish community since the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7, will perform two shows in Israel in October, one in Jerusalem and one in Tel Aviv.
These appearances, on October 13 at the Jerusalem Theater and October 14 in Tel Aviv’s Beit HaChayal, will be Rapaport’s first professional performances in Israel.
The comic and actor has said that the October 7 Hamas massacre and ensuing wave of antisemitism in the US were deeply personal for him.
Rapaport signed an open letter to US President Joe Biden in October 2023, along with hundreds of other Hollywood personalities, calling for the immediate release of the hostages.
On December 12, Rapaport came to Israel in support of the country, meeting with hostage families and the bereaved and posting regularly on social media about the encounters.
He visited Kibbutz Be’eri, the site of one of the worst massacres committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7, and hosted an episode of Keshet TV’s long-running satirical show “Eretz Nehederet” (A Wonderful Country), satirizing the hypocrisy of Hollywood stars and their silence regarding the Hamas attack.
Rapaport returned to Israel this summer, posting on Instagram from his walks and recording conversations with passersby, and repeatedly reminding his 2.1 million followers how many days the hostages have been kept in captivity.
The six-foot-two comic has made over 100 appearances in film and television, including recurring roles on “Friends” and “My Name is Earl,” among others.
Rapaport, 54, was born to Jewish parents and raised in New York City. After his parents divorced, his mother married a stand-up comedian who helped Rapaport in the early years of his career.
Tickets for the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv shows range from NIS 219 to NIS 249 and are available on Ticketmaster.
