Mark Breslin on the value of Jewish comedy and identity in an increasingly antisemitic world

Not That Kind of Rabbi

Last month, the flagship Yuk Yuk's location in downtown Toronto hosted a stand-up comedy fundraiser for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. Predictably, anti-Israel protesters swarmed it. The club's founder and owner, Mark Breslin—who organized the event—tried to get in through a back entrance, only to find more protesters waiting there for him and his family. Through cries of "Baby killer" and "Genocidal maniacs", they entered, got the police riot squad called in, and the show went on as planned.

It's not the first time Breslin has encountered hatred because of his identity—which is, he says, more founded in tradition than religion.

Breslin went into depth about his upbringing and beliefs in an engrossing sit-down interview with his old friend Ralph Benmergui, at the Prosserman JCC on Feb. 13, as part of a series of live tapings of The CJN's podcast Not That Kind of Rabbi.

Credits

Not That Kind of Rabbi is hosted by Ralph Benmergui and produced by Michael Fraiman. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To support The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt, please consider a monthly donation by clicking here.