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Benji Lovitt
Headshot of Benji Lovitt
Birth nameBenjamin Nathan Lovitt
BornDallas, Texas
GenresIsrael comedy, Jewish comedy, observational comedy
Subject(s)Israel, Jewish culture, Middle East, current events, summer camp, hummus
Websitebenjilovitt.com

Benjamin Nathan Lovitt, known professionally as "Benji Lovitt", is an Israeli-American comedian, educator and writer.

Comedy

Lovitt's comedy career started at an open-mic night in Houston, Texas in 1997, and he continued to hone his skills at similar amateur events for several years. After making aliyah in 2006, Lovitt began performing professionally and has repeatedly headlined shows for Nefesh b'Nefesh, Birthright Israel, Masa Israel Journey, The Israel Scouts and the Jewish Federations of North America. He also regularly tours the United States to perform before a wide variety of Jewish and non-Jewish audiences for synagogues, churches and organizations like Israel Bonds,[1] Hillel,[2][3] Young Judaea, Limmud,[4][5] JNF[6] and Hadassah.[7][8]

During Operation Protective Edge in the summer of 2014, Lovitt performed together with several other comedians for Israeli civilians confined to bomb shelters or otherwise impacted by rockets launched by terrorists and for Israeli soldiers taking a break from the fighting. While many of the shows were free, the proceeds from those with an admission charge were donated to the Friends of the IDF’s Lone Soldier Program .[9][10]

Lovitt also produced humorous videos on Jewish holidays, aliyah and other topics.[11] He has been interviewed on the Israeli television show Hayom l'Machar[12] and appeared as a featured bachelor on the Israeli reality dating show Singles.[13]

Writing

Lovitt has been widely published in Israeli and American media. He is a regular blogger for the Times of Israel and previously provided guest columns for the Jerusalem Post. Articles by Lovitt can also be found at eJewish Philanthropy, the Jewish Daily Forward, Ynet, Israel21c, PresenTense Magazine,[14] Jewish Boston and other online publications.[15]

Lovitt is perhaps best known for his annual "Things I love about Israel" Yom Ha'atzmaut lists that highlight unique aspects of Israeli society from the perspective of an oleh.[16]

Lovitt's January 2014 article in eJewish Philanthropy about bringing short-term Israel program participants to Tel Aviv[17] was one of the site's most widely read and discussed pieces and is often credited with inspiring Birthright Israel to launch the Tel Aviv Urban Experience in 2015.[18][19][20]

Personal life

Lovitt was born in Dallas, Texas[21] and has two older siblings. Lovitt attended J.J. Pearce High School[22] and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree from The University of Texas at Austin.[23] He was active in the Young Judaea youth movement for many years and also held leadership roles at Texas Hillel.

Young Judaea brought Lovitt to Israel for the first time when he was 15 years old, and he returned a few years later to spend a gap year before college as a participant on Young Judaea's Year Course program.[24] Lovitt made aliyah in 2006, in the midst of the Second Lebanon War and began writing about his experiences in a blog called "What War Zone???" He currently lives in Tel Aviv.

Lovitt, often referred to as a chumus enthusiast[25] talks about the chickpea dish regularly in both interviews and his comedy.[26][27] "Chumus McGee" is one of Lovitt's alter egos.[28]

References

  1. ^ "Dallas Native Benji Lovitt Performs Stand-up Comedy at Israel Bonds". Texas Jewish Post. Texas Jewish Post. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  2. ^ "A Little Shabbat and a Lot of Laughter: Shabbat 118 to feature comedian". UNT Libraries, The Portal to Texas History. Jeanne F. Samuels. 3 November 2011. p. 23. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  3. ^ Ianni, Emma. "Israel Culture Week to Feature Comedian, Movie". Cornell Daily Sun. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  4. ^ Chabin, Michele. "Limmud Taking Root in a Changing Tel Aviv". The Jewish Week. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Limmud Miami: Directory (Presenters)". Limmud Miami. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  6. ^ "JNF Speakers Bureau". Jewish National Fund. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  7. ^ Belej, Maureen. "Comedian Promotes Israel". YNetNews. Yedioth Internet. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Show Schedule". BenjiLovitt.com. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  9. ^ Oster, Marcy. "Amid Gaza-Israel conflict, some tales to warm the heart". Times of Israel. Times of Israel. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  10. ^ Dreyfus, Hannah. "Comic Shelter From The Storm". The Jewish Week. The Jewish Week. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  11. ^ "Benji Lovitt Videos". BenjiLovitt.com. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Benji Lovitt on Israel's Hayom l'Machar". Daily Motion. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  13. ^ "My Day on a Reality TV Show". BenjiLovitt.com. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  14. ^ Lovitt, Benji. "Would You Like Some Chumus with that Poke? Facebook Invades the Holy Land". Presentense Magazine. Presentense Group. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Writing". BenjiLovitt.com. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  16. ^ Freedman, Allie (29 October 2014). "Why We Love Israel". Jewish Times. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  17. ^ Lovitt, Benji. "Israel Programs: The Case for Tel Aviv". eJewishPhilanthropy.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  18. ^ "Birthright Israel Launches Tel Aviv Urban Experience; hmmmmm". eJewishPhilanthropy.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  19. ^ Ghert-Zand, Renee. "As it turns 15, Birthright Israel takes a closer look at Tel Aviv". Times of Israel. Times of Israel. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  20. ^ Steinberg-Zand, Jessica. "Is Birthright in decline for neglecting 'cool' Tel Aviv-style Israel?". Times of Israel. Times of Israel. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  21. ^ Levitt, Meredith Price. "CafeTalk: Arrivals: Benji Lovitt". Jerusalem Post. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  22. ^ "Classmates.com". Classmates.com. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Degrees and Dates of Attendance". Degrees and Dates of Attendance. Office of the Registrar of UT-Austin. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  24. ^ Levitt, Meredith Price. "CafeTalk: Arrivals: Benji Lovitt". Jerusalem Post. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  25. ^ "Interview With Benji Lovitt". Israel Travel and Tours. Israel Travel and Tours. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  26. ^ Simon, Judy. "Audio: Comedian Benji Lovitt Finds Living in the Middle East Very Funny". arutz sheva. A7 Radio. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  27. ^ Ghert-Zand, Renee. "Pumpkin spice hummus hits the US". Times of Israel. Times of Israel. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  28. ^ Ghert-Zand, Renee. "Wipers and Squeezers". Truth, Praise and Help. Wordpress. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
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