How Modern Orthodox Upbringing Shapes His Work

Ami explains how his modern Orthodox identity informs his comedy, unplugged Sabbath practice, and his ability to engage on Israel.

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Episode notes

Ami Kozak is redefining what Jewish comedy and commentary look like in 2025 — blending sharp impressions, fearless satire, and moral clarity in a time of chaos.

In this episode of Being Jewish with Jonah Platt: 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with Ami — modern Orthodox comedian, musician, and host of the podcast Ami’s House — to talk about how his Jewish faith and sense of moral clarity shaped his response to anti-Jew bigotry and misinformation after October 7.

Ami shares:

How growing up modern Orthodox shaped his Jewish identity and worldview
Why October 7 changed his purpose as a performer — turning laughter into a vehicle for truth
Why he chose to have civil conversations with controversial figures like Candace Owens and Dave Smith — and what those exchanges taught him about engaging bad ideas in good faith
The dangers of moral relativism, false “experts,” and the growing misuse of words like “genocide”
What he calls “goosebumps with clarity” — balancing empathy with uncompromising honesty
His creative process for impressions of President Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, and Zohran Mamdani — and how humor can cut through disinformation

From synagogue to stage, from serious debate to satire, Ami Kozak proves that comedy can do more than make people laugh — it can make them think.

Hashtags:

#AmiKozak #BeingJewish #30MinuteMensches #JewishComedy #ModernOrthodox #Israel #JewishIdentity #Antisemitism #FreeSpeech #JewishHumor #MoralClarity

Mentioned In The Episode:

Ami’s House (podcast)

Yahud

Your Hebrew word for the day: MAMAD

Human Rights Council members who abuse human rights