H

a ha! LOL. Heh-heh. 
For the tech-savvy 
and non-techies alike, 
most of us can still recognize 
what these words are express-
ing: laughter. 
What I find to be laughter’s 
most powerful quality is its 
ability to strengthen a com-
munity. Laughter can diffuse 
tensions, elevate understand-
ing between individuals or 
groups and even amplify com-
munication by strengthening 
relationships. Whether we are 

young or old, quiet or loud, a 
comedy show-lover or not, it is 
important we all keep laughter 
in our lives, both as individuals 
and as a community. 
Comedian Alex Edelman 
certainly recognizes this, 
and University of Michigan 
community members had the 
opportunity to experience 
this in real time with him last 
week.
Currently touring his two-
time New York Times Critics’ 
Pick Just For Us performance 

through March, Edelman is a 
New York City-based come-
dian whose exceptional writ-
ing skills never fail to shine 
through every belly-laugh-
ter-inducing performance. 
Proud of his Jewish identity, 
he delivers a strategic synergy 
of sophisticated lightheart-
edness with the realness of 
living life as a Jew in just about 
every performance of his. Just 
For Us takes the audience on 
an exploration of Edelman’s 
Jewish identity, focusing on 
antisemitism and the realities 
of being Jewish in America 
today. 
Edelman was initially 
recognized in 2014 as the 
first American to win the 
Edinburgh Comedy Award for 
Best Newcomer since 1997, 
and the laughter he has fos-
tered has only traveled farther 
since. Heard from London’s 
West End to Broadway and on 
stages across the country, this 
laughter has now infiltrated 
the theaters of three college 
campuses. 
Alex Edelman: The Campus 
Tour was enjoyed by students 
and the surrounding campus 
communities at the University 
of Northern Carolina, the 
University of Pennsylvania 
and at U-M. Influenced by the 
impact felt by many commu-
nities following [the terrorism 
in Israel on] Oct. 7, this show 
was intended to stimulate con-
versations and spread empathy 
across each of the campuses he 
visited.
In front of 700-plus U-M 
students and individuals 
from the broader campus 
community, Edelman effort-
lessly shined his comedic light 
while touching upon subjects 
ranging from the overlooked 
aspects of kosher dining to his 
approach on how teachers can 

be treated as athletes — yes, 
this includes streaming and 
fantasy brackets. Following his 
performance, Edelman held a 
surprisingly intimate Q&A ses-
sion. Together, as a communi-
ty, we learned, we listened and 
we laughed.
I am fortunate to have seen 
Edelman’s Just For Us twice last 
year, once as a curious student 
studying abroad in London 
and another as an eager intern 
just a few months later in New 
York City. I was able to laugh 
and smile along with those 
around me, fully engulfed 
in the meticulous details of 
Edelman’s hilarious stories. His 
sense of humor is strategically 
magnificent. His words build 
up a magnetic energy that 
attracts the room’s attention 
as he discusses subjects such 
as antisemitism that make his 
stories a conversation to be 
heard. 
As soon as I found out 
Edelman was coming to U-M, 
I quickly became involved 
in helping bring him to my 
campus. I felt passionate about 
providing my fellow classmates 
with this opportunity (com-
plimentary, might I add) to 
experience the joy and come-
dic relief that Edelman brings 
to his audience, just as I had 
experienced in London and 
New York.
There is much that can 
be gathered from Edelman’s 
comedic technique of bringing 
communities together to laugh, 
and I am certainly inspired 
to facilitate the spread of joy 
around me as best as I can. 
Life can get hard, but laughter 
and a sense of community can 
make it easier. Let’s continue 
to embrace the communities 
we are part of and even those 
we are not. But, let’s do so with 
LOL (Lots of Laughter). @

LOLing with 
Alex Edelman 
at U-M

Comedian’s stories evoke laughter, 
understanding of real-life situations, 
antisemitism and Jewish identity. 

Marlee Hooberman } jewish@edu writer

for college students 
by college students
LEFT: Senior Carly Brechner of Philadelphia, comedian Alex 
Edelman and senior Marlee Hooberman of West Bloomfield

56 | FEBRUARY 15 • 2024 

