New Delhi: American comedian and rabbi Menachem Silverstein faced a walkout from audience members during a comedy show in Chicago after he opened his performance by expressing his support for Israel.
“My name is Menachem, and I support Israel,” Silverstein said as his opening line.
Following the statement, footage circulating on social media showed several audience members getting up and leaving the venue, while Silverstein remained on stage.
Silverstein continued with his performance as audience members walked out, with empty seats visible in the venue.
Who is Menachem Silverstein?
According to a 2023 profile by Jewish Journal, Silverstein is an Orthodox rabbi, comedian, screenwriter, and producer based in Los Angeles. He served as a rabbi at Shul on the Hill, an Orthodox synagogue in Studio City, Los Angeles, and also performed stand-up comedy at the Laugh Factory.
Silverstein grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and has worked in television and film. He has also written, directed, and acted in films for Toveedo, a streaming service that produces content for Orthodox Jewish audiences.
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Social media reacts to the walkout
Footage of the Chicago incident prompted a wave of social media reactions, with several users making jokes about Silverstein clearing the room before even delivering a punchline.
“He just broke a new world record by emptying a comedy room before even the first punchline,” a user wrote on X.
Another user wrote: “Jewish Comedian Menachem Silverstein manages to clear out an entire room within the first punchline by saying he supports Israel.”
A third user described the incident as a “world record for emptying a comedy club completely – even before landing his first joke.”
Another commenter took a different view, writing: “If they’ve been so stupid as to pay, why the hell does he care? He pockets the money by doing in 10 seconds the work of a whole evening.”
Edited by Maryam Hassan