Lovitt’s loving Limmud
Comedian Benji Lovitt has combined his observations on Israeli society with his lifelong involvement in Jewish education to create a hilarious narrative - and he is bringing it to Limmud Oz in Melbourne and Yom Limmud in Sydney.
SINCE making aliyah in 2006, comedian Benji Lovitt has combined his observations on Israeli society with his lifelong involvement in Jewish education to create a hilarious narrative that has brought smiles to faces all over the world.
Lovitt, who is set to visit Australia to present at Limmud Oz in Melbourne and Yom Limmud in Sydney, spoke to The AJN about his fascinating journey from Texan university student to Israeli stand-up comedian.
“Before my senior year of college, I wasn’t even aware that [stand-up comedy] was a possibility. A friend of mine moved to LA around that time to become a comedian and suddenly I realised that people I knew could actually do it.
“I once heard someone say that comedians don’t want to perform, they have to perform. At some point, I knew if I didn’t try it, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”
Lovitt’s first performance was at an open-mic night in Houston, Texas, in 1997.
As a child Lovitt was a part of Young Judaea, a Zionist youth movement that involved an Israel summer program and a gap year. At the end of every trip to Israel, “I’d be sad, feeling like it was never long enough.”
Lovitt “wasn’t happy” living in New York from 2003-2006. “I wanted to leave and decided I wanted to spend some time in Israel at a time in life when I had nothing holding me back. I knew if I didn’t give it a shot, I’d spend the rest of my life saying ‘what if?’” he said.
Now, almost 10 years later, Lovitt has no regrets.
“I never could have imagined life turning out this way,” he said, “As an immigrant, life in modern-day Israel is never boring.” Lovitt’s perspective as a immigrant is what informs his comedy, and he is certain that this will easily translate to Australian audiences.
“Even though I’m an American, 95 per cent (or more) of it will be the same thing experienced by Australians in Israel. A lot about cultural differences, learning Hebrew, holidays, and more.”
Lovitt is overjoyed to be in Australia for the first time in his life. “Every country I visit, the Limmud crowd and Jewish community are so warm and welcoming.
“I have friends who I’m looking forward to seeing, and am sure I’ll leave with more friends than I came with,” he said.
Lovitt has previously been interviewed on the Israeli television show Hayom l’Machar, and appeared as a featured bachelor on Israeli reality dating show Singles. He has also been interviewed by Time, The Huffington Post, USA Today and The Los Angeles Times.
When asked what he considered his most memorable career moment, Lovitt said, “This! After working my tuchus off for the last many years, to get to visit Australia is a dream. Makes all the hard work worth it.”
Limmud Oz runs from June 25 to June 27. For full details, visit www.limmudoz.com.au.
To see Benji Lovitt at Yom Limmud on July 3, go to www.yomlimmudsydney.com.au.
YAEL BRENDER
comments