Jewish comedians from Don Rickles to Jackie Mason have long been in the forefront of comedy because humour has provided an emotional release from hatred. For Israelis, much of their comedy involves mocking the misconceptions outsiders have about them.
Onto the stage, strode the tall gent with with beard and an outsized Star of David to the uproarious applause of his fans. Sponder’s on stage persona is impressively magnetic before he utters a single word as his immensely talented shtick allows him to switch between high-energy and an even, funnier laid-back performance.
He feels it is his responsibility to mocking those who spread hate, trusting his audience will gain strength, hope and laughter from it. He uses comedy to push back, rather than wait for political pundits to do so. The outsized Star of David necklace that is his trademark during his sets on and off stage, is his way of never hiding or running away from your identity.
That’s the core of his delivery “Self Loving Jew”, a direct response to a troubling trend observed online over a number of years. In the wake of rampant antisemitism- and October 7, Sponder lampoons media Jews prefacing their comments “as a Jew” before criticising Israel while placing little to no blame on Hamas, and distancing themselves from their Jewish identity….he believes its fair to criticise Israel, just as it is to critique any country. It’s the double standard he pillories, when some, including Jews- openly questioning Israel’s very existence, something that’s not done with any other nation.
On stage, Sponder has an easy style in delivering, off-the-cuff surprises in a smooth fashion gaging and engaging with his audience. He doesn’t mince his words, finding humour in what makes him furious. He has 150,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok, first gaining attention for his popular “Funny Monday” shows in Tel Aviv, which amassed huge following on YouTube. His orbit started spinning faster with his decision to perform Israeli comedy in English, believing the shift would allow him to reach a broader audience…. and be able to fly Business Class.
He turns and twists English words into hilarious jokes. There is a reason why he’s likely the most talented Jewish comedian, you’ve never heard of.
Guffaws, embarrassment and pure joy in his humour delivers an outstanding performance to rapturous applause.
