Eli Lebowicz has always loved making people laugh. As a kid growing up in Chicago, he found that comedy was a great way to entertain friends during Shabbat meals. His favorite shows were “Seinfeld” and “The Simpsons,” which he credits with shaping his sense of humor.

“I was always drawn to clever, observational comedy,” Lebowicz shared with The Jewish Link. “I loved how those shows were both smart and subtle in their humor. I realized that I was subconsciously learning the magic of a well-crafted joke.”

Years later, while studying at Yeshiva University, Lebowicz decided to try stand-up for the first time during a talent fundraiser. “I didn’t do so well,” he admitted with a laugh. “But I had fun, and it made me want to keep going. I found that speaking in front of a crowd wasn’t as intimidating as it seemed.”

That spark turned into a passion, and today, Lebowicz is a full-time comedian, living in Teaneck and performing all over North America and even Israel. “I love the opportunities that have come from my comedy, and I’m so blessed, especially because I don’t have other skills,” he said.

Lebowicz’s comedy stands out for its relatable humor and clean material, drawing heavily on his Modern Orthodox upbringing and Jewish life experiences. His topics include anything from everyday Jewish rituals to being married with kids, to niche topics within the Modern Orthodox zeitgeist.

“A lot of comedians do Jewish material, but it’s often very surface-level—bagels and lox jokes,” Lebowicz explained. “I try to dig deeper and focus on the nuances of what everyday observant Jews experience, things that aren’t often represented well in comedy.”

His performances are appropriate for audiences as young as bar mitzvah age, but his humor resonates most with adults of all ages. “I love talking about things like the stress of an early Shabbos when you’re married,” Lebowicz shared. “It’s humor rooted in real, everyday experiences. You’d be surprised how much material can be found in those little moments.”

Lebowicz’s path to full-time comedy wasn’t without its challenges. For years, he balanced his passion for humor with day jobs and some of the usual stops for YU grads. In 2023, he finally took the leap into comedy full-time, despite the uncertainty.

“It’s pretty unpredictable when you’re starting out,” he said. “You’re building your name with each show, slowly getting to a place where people know who you are. But it’s also tough when a shul doesn’t hire you because the comedian they had 20 years ago didn’t go over so well.”

Part of his journey involved honing his comedic skills in unlikely places. One of his first jobs was in high school and college working as a food vendor at Cubs’ games at Wrigley Field. “I would banter with the customers, cracking jokes, and putting a unique spin on the usual call for peanuts or water. People were really receptive to it, and I’d walk away with pretty great tips just for being funny. It was a great stepping stone to stand-up.”

Today, Lebowicz’s performances are in demand for community events, school fundraisers and shul dinners. He’s looking forward to doing an upcoming pre-Chanukah tour in Israel, with major performances in Beit Shemesh, Yerushalayim, Efrat, Carmei Gat and Modiin. After a successful run of shows during Pesach of 2019, he saw that his following in the Jewish world extended to the Anglo audience in the Holy Land, making him a real draw there.

Looking ahead, Lebowicz is focused on expanding his reach and continuing to make comedy in any way he can. In addition to his stand-up, he recently co-created J-Sketch, a sketch comedy group with Ami Kozak and Mikey Greenblatt.

“Comedy is a tool I use to connect with people on a deeper level,” Lebowicz observed. “I’ve realized that it can lighten people up, especially considering how rough the world has been the past year. It’s amazing, being able to bring a smile or a laugh to someone who hasn’t had much to laugh about. I never would have thought [that] thinking of a joke in the shower could have this power.”

If you would like to book Lebowicz for your next event, or are interested in his pre-Chanukah Israel tour, you can visit his website, elicomedy.com. You can email him at [email protected] or follow him on X, @elilebowicz and Instagram, @elicomedyagram.

Adam Samuel is a journalist from Teaneck. He blogs at www.adamssoapbox.com.