Comedy for Peace at Rosen JCC
Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Comedians Unite for Laughs and Peace at Rosen JCC
Originally published by the Orlando Sentinel on April 13, 2026. Written by Matthew J. Palm. Republished with credit to the original source.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim comedians walk into a club.
This isn’t the setup for a joke. It’s the premise of Comedy for Peace, a touring ensemble of standup comics from different religious backgrounds who perform together to bring people together through laughter.
Arts at the J, Rosen JCC’s performing arts series at the Pargh Event Center, will host Comedy for Peace on April 23 at 7:30 PM.
No Politics. All Laughs.
Comedy for Peace was founded seven years ago by Dotan Malach, an Israeli comedian who performs under the stage name Erik Angel. The group has since performed 250 shows in 100 cities, built on one simple idea.
“It’s just to show how easy it is to have fun together,” Malach says. “It’s a very optimistic thing that’s fighting all the hate.”
Malach never intended to become a comedian. Originally a singer-songwriter in Israel, his path changed after a trip to Krakow, Poland — of all places, to see the Foo Fighters — where he met his future wife at a Shabbat dinner. He eventually moved to New York City, began exploring comedy, and quickly realized religious differences didn’t have to be a barrier to friendship.
“I met great Muslim comedians on the circuit,” he says. “After about two years, I really wanted to do a night with Jewish and Muslim comedians.” Christians joined in too, and what was planned as a one-time event became a movement.
Meet the Performers
Joining Erik Angel in Orlando will be three fellow comics:
Ellen Karis, known as the Greek Goddess of Comedy, has performed across North America, released three comedy specials, and is recognized for her recurring role on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Gibran Saleem, an American raised in a Pakistani Muslim household, is the only comedian ever to be a finalist for both Stand-Up NBC and the NBC Late Night Writers Program.
Steve Marshall is a New York-based Jewish American comedian, actor, and writer with more than 25 years in the business.
The show is kept deliberately clean — what Malach describes as “a kosher, halal, church show” — so everyone feels welcome.
Why It Matters
Since Comedy for Peace launched in 2019, the world has grown more complicated. Malach acknowledges the weight of that reality but believes humor remains a path forward.
“After Oct. 7, it became even more important to me to bring people together,” he says. “You have to laugh even on the hardest day.”
Each show concludes with a 20-minute open discussion where the audience can share their feelings — because for Malach, the comedy is just the beginning.
“With comedy, this is how we open hearts,” he says. “Then, we talk.”
Comedy for Peace at the Pargh Event Center
Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Pargh Event Center at Rosen JCC 11184 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32836
Tickets: $25 to $29
