It’s Purim time and who knows more about simchah than the Pester Rebbe aka Yoely Lebovits? This world-renowned badchan and comedian shows us there’s more to humor than meets the eye.

Purim’s approaching, what have you been busy with?

Actually, I’m heading over to Kol Mevaser (Yiddish-language news hotline) to record the Purim segment, for the ninth year. Aside for from my usual busy badchan schedule, this is the time I write all my new material.

Purim is a very special time for me. I get to bring simchah to many Purim seudahs and hospital patients. When I’m not spending time with my family, I try to visit to people I know need cheering up.

What’s your favorite part of Purim?

During the year people don’t let themselves be truly happy. On Purim it’s like it says in Tehillim [126:2] “Az yimalei sechok pinu,” people who are usually serious allow themselves to laugh until they cry. I feel privileged to make it happen.

What’s the most difficult part of Purim for you?

Picking a costume. People dress up so funny, I can’t compete. I usually pull something out of my closet, improvise, and hope it works. And another thing, all of the sudden everyone else becomes funny and I’m the normal one, and that’s boring.

Seriously, when did you figure out you were funny?

My parents divorced when I was young. My siblings realized early on that humor would help us get through it. If we all laughed until our stomachs hurt it would be better pain than the one we were going through.

As I grew, I saw lots of people suffering, and I saw I could make them happy, change their lives. I had a few rebbis in cheder who realized my gift and encouraged me, with warnings that I should make sure not to hurt people. My father shlita also encouraged me saying, “Making a Yid happy is the biggest mitzvah, even bigger than making him do teshuvah. Every Yid needs simchah.”

How does one go from being plain funny to commercially funny — how did you get started as a badchan?

In my days, the techiyas hameisim tantz was popular at weddings. In it, one man has a drink and the other wants it. They fight and one is knocked “dead.” Petrified, the other tries to revive him. This was a silent act and the big kuntz was falling. One day I decided to change course. I grabbed the mike and started to be maspid the “dead” drunk. Soon people were rolling on the floor. Fifteen minutes later I realized I had just given my first comedy show.

After a few chasunahs, someone called me back for their sheva brachos. Soon people I didn’t know started hiring me for their simchahs.

Does stage fright affect you as a badchan? How do you deal with it?

You might not believe it, but when they announce my name on the mike I still blush. I never thought I would become a badchan, but when I saw how people responded, I knew I had to do it. I still get nerves but I push through and they disappear as soon as people laugh. My advice for people is, if you are good at something, don’t let fear stop you. Do what you love and you will see that fear is only an illusion.

How do you go from a funny voice to creating a recognizable character that is all your own?

I always listen carefully to the way people speak. You know how sometimes someone comes across annoying? I try to find the humor in it. Some of those “unique voices” have turned into my most beloved and memorable characters.

How do you balance being serious and being funny?

I would encourage everyone to visit a hospital at least once a month. It’s a reality check. At night I’m mesamei’ach chassan v’kallah and by day I visit the hospital and the homebound. It reminds me what’s important in life. I’m a husband, father, and then a performer. My family comes first and that helps keep me balanced.

Can you share an interesting experience you had as a badchan?

I arrived at a simchah hall that had two simchahs, one I quickly passed knowing I was badchaning at the other. The chasunah was stunning — the lighting, flowers — but as soon as I started, I realized the baal simchah was distracted, busy, talking to his guests. By nature he was stiff, so the guests uncomfortable and laughed quietly. It was disappointing. When I was through I decided to check the other simchah. Turns out it was the sheva brachos of one of my favorite rebbis from cheder. The guests were enjoying their gefilte fish with chrain — it was like a siyum. My rebbi, said “Nu, Yoely, badchan.” There wasn’t even a mike! I badchaned and the olam laughed until they cried. The other baal simchah paid so these people could laugh!

Do you use humor to get out of sticky situations?

Truth is, it’s not really humor that’s my focus, it’s making people feel good, feel happy. If you give a compliment in a way that makes someone laugh, that can help. And I don’t use jokes to get out of tickets, it mostly doesn’t help.

Can you share a trick or tip of delivering a good joke?

You say a story, pause, and give people a chance to think they know what you are about to say. When you deliver a punch line they don’t expect, that element of surprise makes people laugh.

Thank you, Mr. Lebovits, for taking time to show us that hidden in humor is the love for another Yid. May you always be zocheh to bring strength and joy to Klal Yisrael!

Brain Teasers

What is your favorite joke you would like to share with our readers today, l’kavod Purim?

I know you’ll think I’m kidding but I’m really bad at telling jokes.

(Originally featured in Junior, Issue 501)