Avi Liberman, the creative founder of Comedy for Koby, will host the shows, describing the project as a “tremendous personal and professional source of pride.”
As the Koby Mandell Foundation marks its 25th anniversary, it will host the 40th edition of its Comedy for Koby tour, starting on Wednesday, May 27, at venues across the country.
The tour will feature shows in Beit Shemesh, Gush Etzion, Modi’in, Zichron Yaakov, Tel Aviv, Ra’anana, and Jerusalem, with two performances in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Seth Mandell and Sherri Mandell established the foundation after their 13-year-old son, Koby, and his friend Yosef Ishran, were murdered in a terrorist attack in May 2001 while hiking near their home.
Today, the organization provides a wide range of support services for victims of terror and traumatic loss.
What began as an effort to bring healing to families affected by terrorism has become one of Israel’s most popular English-language entertainment events.
Sherri and Rabbi Seth Mandell. (credit: SHARON ALTSHUL)
The tour has helped pave the way for Israel’s growing English-language stand-up comedy scene for nearly two decades.
As for the latest tour, which kicks off in Modi’in, it features a diverse lineup of comedians, from up-and-coming British comic Nicholas De Santo to Bob Zany and Rich Vos, veteran performers who have appeared at some of the comedy world’s leading venues.
‘A tremendous personal and professional source of pride’
Avi Liberman, the creative founder of Comedy for Koby, will host the shows. Liberman’s contacts in the entertainment world have helped him bring major comedians to Israel for the tour over the years.
“I see it as a tremendous personal and professional source of pride to see what this show has become,” Liberman said. “We’ve been on the forefront of bringing Israel some of the world’s best comedians and created something that brings humor to a country that seems to always want to laugh but also support people who need it now more than ever.”
De Santo, who has been making waves on stages around the world with an unapologetic approach described as “unwoke,” said he was looking forward to performing in Israel, a country he has long advocated for, even before audiences that are typically not supportive of Israel.
“As a comedian who doesn’t shy away from current affairs, a lot of my material can relate to the Middle East, and I have always looked forward to coming to Israel and experiencing what I’ve heard so much about,” he said.
“I also routinely get questions from fans as to when I would be coming to Israel, so in many ways being part of Comedy for Koby is making both a personal and professional dream come true,” De Santo added.
Vos, whose comedy has earned him more than 100 television and film roles, is known for a brash comedic style that has made him a sought-after performer in comedy roasts.
Like De Santo, he will be performing in Israel for the first time. Zany, the tour’s lone returning guest, is known for his lightning-fast wit, crowd work, and biting observations on current events.
Tour honors Koby’s memory, supports victims’ families
Rabbi Seth Mandell, the founder and chair of the Koby Mandell Foundation, said the tour has become a meaningful way to honor Koby’s memory while supporting families dealing with loss.
“The power of Comedy for Koby is that it offers access to incredible entertainment that remains fresh and relevant each and every time,” he said.
“Through the tours we are able to show comedians the truth from Israel that can then be shared with the world,” Mandell continued.
“But for our family in particular, the greatest gift has been having such a special way to bring joy through Koby’s memory and support other families who are experiencing pain and loss,” he said.
Tickets are available at www.comedyforkoby.com
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
