Rabbi Bob Alper

Up to 75 minutes of world-class comedy that's 100% clean, non-political and suitable for people ages 11 to infinity. Bob's a rabbi who performed before 2000 at Toronto's Muslimfest as well as in churches, Christian conferences, synagogues and comedy clubs.

Bob Alper
Rabbi/Stand-Up Comic
(Really)

There’s a reason why Sirius/XM satellite radio plays Rabbi Bob Alper’s bits several times daily, often sandwiched between Bob Newhart and Jerry Seinfeld: Bob’s unique background - he’s an ordained rabbi who served congregations for fourteen years and holds a doctorate from Princeton Theological Seminary - prepared him well for a thirty-five year comedy career with wonderfully unique material presented in a way that’s intelligent, sophisticated and 100% clean.
Audiences adore him, from an SRO crowd at the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival to a standing ovation before 2,700 people at New York’s famed Chautauqua Institution. He’s appeared at Hollywood’s IMPROV and THE COMEDY STORE, and in December, 2022, he bested 20 nationally-performing comedians in a contest sponsored by The Vermont Comedy Festival.
Bob performs all across North America and England, at corporate events, theatres, non-profits, conventions, private parties, churches, and, naturally, synagogues. And he’s done over 500 shows with his Muslim and Christian comedy partners, at a variety of venues, primarily colleges and universities. The New York Times reported the comics “...had the audience convulsing.”
Bob’s 75-minute stand-up act is fast-paced, with impeccable timing and material that’s definitely sharp yet gentle and unhurtful. In addition, he offers an informative, hilarious event called “The Spirituality of Laughter,” which is particularly appropriate for religious organizations, civic groups, school and hospital in-services, etc.
The rabbi-comedian draws tremendous media attention, and, among others, has been seen on The Tamron Hall Show (twice), The Early Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Showtime, the BBC, CNN and was featured on Extra, TV's top-rated entertainment program, immediately following a segment on the size of Jennifer Lopez's buttocks. He bested 4000 entrants from 47 countries to be named “Honorary Comedic Advisor to the Pope,” in a contest launched on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
In addition to being a full-time stand-up comic, Bob is the author of three books that further showcase his considerable talents: Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This, an inspirational collection that The Detroit Free Press called “a volume of spiritual gems;” the award-winning full-color cartoon book A Rabbi Confesses; and Thanks. I Needed That, more stories that touch readers with their warmth, humor, and wisdom. He’s also produced two best-selling comedy CDs as well as a DVD.

Bob resides in rural Vermont with his wife Sherri, a psychotherapist. Professionally, he makes people laugh, while she helps people cry.

Rabbi Bob Alper Technical Sheet

Please read this information upon receipt, and follow the instructions carefully. Comedy has comparatively easy technical requirements, but if the performer cannot be heard, or seen, or if the audience is spread out, then the value of the event will be severely diminished.

• Room set-up is absolutely critical. In a room where seats are moveable, chairs should be arranged as close to the performer and as close to one another as possible, such as is done in a comedy club. Semi-circle, rather than in straight rows. Large round dinner tables are more difficult, and placing a comedian in the middle of a dance floor, with tables around the edge or a buffet in the center, is as effective as making a tap dancer dance on a carpet. Believe me. Understandably, the performance will not commence until the room is set properly.

If the performance is held in a large room with fixed seats, you must rope off any
extra seats in the back or sides so that everybody sits in the front.

• Essential equipment includes:

1. A stage, pulpit or platform (4’ x 6’ is sufficient).

2. A hand-held microphone on an adjustable pole (pole only; no boom attachment), preferably with a wire rather than batteries, which can fail (podium, lectern or clip-on microphones are not acceptable). Check the sound system well in advance to be sure it operates properly, without interruption or distortion. I repeat: check the sound system. For the life of me, I cannot understand why ostensibly bright people will pay a significant amount of money to hire a performer, and then discover at showtime that the audience cannot hear due to a bad $2.00 connection on the mike wire.

3. Lights properly aimed to light a person performing at the front edge of the stage/pulpit/platform (remember, most spotlights are aimed deeper onto the stage, and must be adjusted in order to light somebody performing at the front). If there’s no way you can accomplish this, then we can work with the house lights on full.

4. A small card table or similar to hold props; a small bottle of water.

• Also desired, if possible:

House lights that can be dimmed, but not shut down completely, during the performance.

And finally: Re-read the first section about room set-up. If the chairs are so close together that people complain, then you’ve done your job properly(!), and following the show, you’ll be thanked for organizing a terrific comedy event.

From a comedy website: A good live club eliminates anything that distracts from the comic, lets the focus settle clearly on the stage, and the magic all happens within the small confines of a spotlight, one angle of vision, and a single microphone. It's about real, or pretty close to real, intimacy between live human beings.