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