Stand-up Comedian Ben Ben Baruch: "No Need to Lower Yourself to Be Funny"

He makes many people laugh - and always does so with clean language. He reaches audiences that don't observe Torah and mitzvot and entertains them with good Torah-based content. This is stand-up comedian Ben Ben Baruch, married and a father of four, one of the most sought-after comedians across all media channels.

In an interview on the program "Artist and Faith" with Ami Maimon (Radio Kol Barama), Ben Baruch talked about himself: "I am a stand-up comedian, and I have been performing for many years. When I perform, I have one goal - to bring joy to the people of Israel and to make the most of every performance. I maintain clean language and appropriate content, and thank Hashem. I did not expect such a wide audience in a relatively short period, in this field. It generally takes years to build an audience."

On standing by his principles and maintaining the path of Judaism even when performing for a secular audience, Ben Baruch shared two prominent stories. "Two weeks ago, I performed in a stand-up marathon - several stand-up artists each performing for 10 minutes. We were about 10 or 12 of the top stand-up comedians there, at a fundraiser event. Each came with their tools, their artillery, and did what they know. I sat there in the room, knowing I was going up sixth or seventh, and I heard the guys talk and the audience laugh, but I also heard that the other comedians were not using clean language. And I thought to myself: What can I offer them now? Will I talk about my kids? Will that interest them? But I told myself - it doesn't matter. This is what I have, and with it, I will succeed. And truly, I went up with my stand-up, with my materials, which are truly so unique and so genuine, about my life, my kids, my faith - and I rocked it. It's hard for me to boast, but not only did I say it, everyone said that I succeeded many levels above the rest."

"You understand that you don't need to lower yourself to be funny. It's a bit harder, more challenging, but it can be done well. There are many religious people who come to my performances and tell me afterwards - how fun it was that we could sit and listen to your show, and not be afraid you'd speak vulgarly, knowing we could be relaxed."

In response to the interviewer who asked for a personal providence story, Ben Baruch shared: "Two and a half years ago I was approached by the popular Yedioth Ahronoth's '7 Nights' supplement, and they wanted to do a cover story with me and a few other famous stand-up comedians. The only problem was that the only option they gave for the cover photo shoot was on the eve of the Shavuot holiday, two years ago. Right on the eve of the holiday, they decided it was legitimate to do our joint photo shoot. I told my agent - 'It's not going to happen.' He told me, 'What, you're going to give up a cover story in 7 Nights?' I told him there was no way I could do it. Even if there was a way to go without desecrating the holiday, I wouldn't do it just because of the concept. So I told them that and gave it up.

"Turns out something didn't work out technically, and they canceled all the shoots. And not only that, but a month later they did a feature only on me, without all the other stand-up comedians. They only did a feature on me. And it was thanks to that decision."