Yohay Sponder
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Yohay Sponder | |
|---|---|
יוחאי ספונדר | |
 Sponder in 2022 | |
| Born | Yohay Sponder 1982 (age 42–43) Givat Yoav, Israel |
| Occupations | |
Yohay Sponder (Hebrew: יוחאי ספונדר, born 1982) is an Israeli comedian and actor.
Biography
[edit]Sponder's father is the son of Polish Holocaust survivors. His mother's family is Moroccan.[1] Sponder grew up in the Golan Heights, and served in the Israel Defense Forces in the Armored Corps. After his discharge, he performed stand-up comedy shows throughout Israel.[1]
Career
[edit]In 2012, Sponder began performing in English in collaboration with comedian Shahar Chason. Sponder is an early and ongoing contributor to English-language comedy in Israel. "It’s partly from Americans making aliyah and partly from tourists, but Israel now has a bigger English comedy scene than Amsterdam, Madrid and other European cities," he told The Jerusalem Post in 2022.[2]
A cousin of Sponder's was killed in combat in the October 7 attacks. Since then, Sponder has regarded comedy as his reserve duty.[3]
Sponder's performances have been the target of anti-Israel and antisemitic harassment. Two weeks before a show scheduled for January 25, 2025 at the Boom Chicago comedy club in Amsterdam, a protester entered the venue shouting "Free Palestine" and "How dare you let this Jew perform here," referring to Sponder. Boom Chicago canceled Sponder's appearances, citing advice from a consultation with police that Amsterdam police claimed did not take place. After thirty rejections from other venues to reschedule the performance, it took place on February 23, 2025, at a location disclosed to ticketholders on the same day.[4][5]
Sponder is noted for wearing a prominent Star of David necklace onstage.[6]
Sponder is represented by the United Talent Agency.[7]
Personal life
[edit]Sponder is vegan. He is married to a woman who attended one of his stand-up performances in 2021.[2] She now serves as Sponder's booking manager.[8] They and their child live in Ramat Gan.[1]
See also
[edit]
Media related to Yohay Sponder at Wikimedia Commons
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Lampert, Nicole (2025-01-09). "The Israeli comedian reminding the world that Jews are great". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ a b "This Israeli comedian is a stand-up comedy hit in English | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "What Matters Now to comedian Yochay Sponder: Post-Oct. 7 truth — with laughs". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder finds Amsterdam venue after threats, bans | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2025-02-06. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "Amsterdam club cancels Israeli show, suggests finding 'Jewish venue'". 2025-01-26. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ Zeitlin, Alan (2024-09-20). "Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder on finding humor in what makes him furious". Unpacked. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "United Talent Agency: Yohay Sponder". United Talent Agency. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ Algemeiner, The (2025-01-21). "Amsterdam Club Slammed for 'Gaslighting,' 'Lying,' Succumbing to Pressure to Cancel Israeli Comedian's Shows - Algemeiner.com Amsterdam Comedy Club Slammed for 'Gas Lighting,' 'Lying' and Succumbing to Pressure to Cancel Israeli Comedy Show". www.algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2025-07-04.