Episode 12

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Published on:

16th Sep 2020

#12 - Avi Liberman on Comedy for Koby, the Koby Mandell Foundation, performing in Israel during the pandemic, and being a stand-up comic in today's wild times

On this episode of the podcast, we at Jewanced have a special announcement and a special request...

This week, ahead of Rosh Hashanah, we had the pleasure of hosting the truly hilarious standup comic, screenwriter, and actor, Avi Liberman.

As many of you know, each year Avi organizes an amazing initiative – Comedy for Koby.

Comedy for Koby is an annual event that raises money for The Koby Mandell Foundation, which helps bereaved mothers, fathers, widows, orphans, and siblings who have lost loved ones to terror and other tragedies to rebuild their lives and create meaning out of suffering.

During normal years, Avi brings with him well known American comedians to Israel, where they play a number of shows around the country, with all proceeds raising money for this important cause.

This year, due to Covid-19, Avi came alone and did his best to hold a number of shows with local Israeli comedians and also by himself. With the new upcoming lockdown starting this Friday, Avi has had to cancel many of these fundraising shows he had planned.

So - we at Jewanced are hoping to help out. Instead of going to one of the amazing Comedy for Koby shows this year - check out the podcast!

During the episode, Avi hilariously describes his experience actually having contracted Covid-19, a behind-the-scenes tour of the stand-up comedy world, a preview of two fascinating scripts he’s written and is working to get produced as movies, comedy in the world of political correctness, and much more.

Perhaps most importantly, after you enjoy this awesome episode with Avi - please consider donating to the Koby Mandell Foundation!

Links:

·        Donate to the Koby Mandell Foundation at this secured link

·        Avi Liberman on Instagram

·        Avi Liberman on Facebook

·        Check out Avi’s documentary on Comedy for Koby, ‘Land of Milk and Funny’ here

·        Comedy for Koby’s official website

·        Comedy for Koby on Facebook

·        The Koby Mandell Foundation’s official website

As always, make sure to subscribe to Jewanced on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

For more information, visit us at http://www.jewanced.com (new and improved website coming soon!)

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About the Podcast

Jewanced
A nuanced exploration of Israel, the Jewish world and beyond
Jewanced is hosted by Dan Feferman and Benny Scholder, two guys who grew up in America and live in Israel.
They're curious. They want to discuss. They want to challenge popular conceptions, they want to think critically, examine independently, and most of all, they crave nuance.

Each episode features a different guest. All interesting and original people who strive to break boundaries. Together with Dan and Benny, take a deep dive into politics, foreign affairs, religion, science, technology, food, the arts, business – you name it. Explore the nuanced crossroads of Israel, the global Jewish experience, and beyond.

What's the goal? To create a daring platform where people share their stories, insights, creations, and visions. Jewanced has no talking points, no script, no agenda...just a deeper nuanced understanding of our existence.

Join them on a journey as they explore, think, debate and discuss …. And most of all, listen.

About your hosts

Benny Scholder

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With over a decade of experience in Israel's tourism industry, Benny has managed sales, marketing, travel content, digital content, and the operations aspects of tour companies and travel agencies. Today, he is the Director of Sales-North America at Kenes Tours, Israel's leading provider of incoming tourism services, where he is proud to deliver transformative, custom-crafted Israel travel experiences designed to exceed expectations.
Originally from Minneapolis, Benny fell in love with Israel as a young adult, moving to the country in 2004. He has an extensive background in everything Israel-travel related, having completed Israel's intensive tour guide course in 2010. His career spans both logistical, content-related, and sales management positions with major and boutique Israeli tour companies alike. Benny lives with his amazing wife Maayan and two incredible children in the charming village of Gedera. In addition to his passion for transformative travel experiences, he's super passionate about food, modern & ancient history, politics, addictive TV, and game-changing podcasts. Contact him at Benny@jewanced.com

Dan Feferman

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Dan Feferman is a Major (res.) in the Israel Defense Forces. For almost a decade, he served as a foreign policy and national security analyst, strategist and adviser in the IDF General Staff; as a special assistant to the Deputy Chief of the General Staff; and a commander in an elite intelligence unit of AMAN's Research and Analysis Division.

He is a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, a think-tank focusing on issues of importance to Israel and the Jewish people, where he researches religious pluralism in Israel, trends in Jewish identity and Israel-Diaspora relations. He is also a political and strategic consultant and publishes and speaks widely on the Middle East and Israeli defense and political matters.

He is the author of Rising Streams: Reform and Conservative Judaism in Israel, and of a soon-to-be-published book on the changing face of American Judaism.

Dan holds a BA in International Politics and Middle East Studies from the American University in Washington DC and an MA in National Security Studies from Tel Aviv University.

Originally from Indiana, Dan moved to Israel in 2005. He is married to Elisheva, has three amazing kids, and lives in Rehovot. When taking a break, Dan stays busy with Crossfit, martial arts and cooking.