Israel advocate Michael Rapaport brings his comedy to Pittsburgh Oct. 19

Before Oct. 7, Michael Rapaport referred to himself as a “lox and bagels Jew” — proud of his heritage, though not very involved. But after Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel last year, the actor and comedian — known for supporting roles on several popular television shows including “Friends” and “My Name is Earl” — has emerged as an unflinching voice in support of Israel and the hostages still held in Gaza, and against antisemitism.

At a time when many other Jewish celebrities are silent when it comes to Israel’s fight for security and the hostages’ plight, Rapaport, through his social media posts, podcasts and speeches at pro-Israel rallies, has ardently embraced his role of Israel advocate.

Rapaport will be bringing his stand-up comedy show to Pittsburgh on Oct. 19, at the Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall at 8 p.m.

Becoming an outspoken proponent for Israel was a “no-brainer,” Rapaport told the Chronicle in a phone interview last week. When he first heard of Hamas’ “disgusting attempt at a genocide of the people of Israel,” he said, he had an “extremely visceral, incisive reaction.”

Before the Oct. 7 massacre, Rapaport had never visited the Jewish state. By the time he comes to Pittsburgh next month, he will have made five trips. He has spent the year learning about antisemitism and anti-Zionism, he said, and is frustrated by the anti-Jewish rhetoric proliferating around the world.

Michael Rapaport (Photo courtesy of Michael Rapaport)

“We’re in unprecedented times,” Rapaport said. “We’re at the 350th day since Oct. 7, and unless there’s some sort of miracle, we’re going to hit a year. I would love there to be some sort of miracle. I’m praying that there’s a miracle. I’m praying that there’s a miracle before Oct. 7, but I’m not making any plans.”

As devastated as he’s been since Hamas’ deadly invasion of Israel, he acknowledges that his feelings are “miniscule compared to so many people that are dealing with it firsthand, and my trips to Israel have brought me closer to that. And as a Jew, it goes without saying that I think we should all be activated. We should all be fully activated.”

Rapaport and his wife had planned to visit Israel for the first time in December 2023, but considered canceling the trip because of the war. But after the March for Israel in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 14 — at which Rapaport delivered a heartfelt speech — the couple said, “We have to go, and we must go as soon as possible,” he told the Chronicle.

They arrived in Israel on Dec. 12. Rapaport met with hostage families and those in mourning. He visited Kibbutz Be’eri, the site of one of the worst massacres committed by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Rapaport, who has 2 million followers on Instagram, posted regularly about his meetings.

He keeps returning to the Jewish state, he said, because “I want to be with my people. I want to be close to my people. I want to support Israel. I want to support Jews. I want to do everything I can to make sure that the hostages are not forgotten, that the IDF and all those affected are not forgotten, and supported.”

He is set to perform in Israel for the first time on Oct. 13 at the Jerusalem Theater, and then on Oct. 14 in Tel Aviv’s Beit HaChayal. Just five days later, he will take the stage in Pittsburgh.

Asked how he thinks his visit to Israel immediately before his show here might influence his performance, Rapaport stressed that “it’s a comedy show.”

“I do the show to make people laugh and bring joy and have fun as a comedy show,” he said. “That being said, you know, I’ve bought some of the humanity and the comedy of my experiences as a Jewish man in the last year. And really, as a whole, it is a part of the show — certainly not the entire show — but it is a piece of the show.”

Including the topics of Israel and the war in the show “is hard,” he said, but “it is necessary.”

“I think I have a point of view that has a lot of depth, but also ends with humor,” Rapaport said. “And it is hard, it is tricky, and it is a balancing act, but that’s one of those fun things about being a comedian.”

Rapaport last performed in Pittsburgh in September 2023, at City Winery. He said there are a lot of things about the city he loves, including the Steelers, the architecture, the people — and the quirky 1979 sports comedy “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.”

“I’m looking forward to coming back,” he said. PJC

Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.