David Kilimnick

David Kilimnick is an American-born comedian based in Jerusalem, Israel, widely credited as the founding figure of English-language stand-up comedy in the country. The Jerusalem Post has called him the "father of Anglo comedy in Israel" - a title he earned by founding Off The Wall Comedy Theater in Jerusalem, the city's only dedicated English-language comedy venue. Kilimnick grew up in the United States with a rabbi father, made aliyah (immigrated to Israel), and turned the culture shock of that transition into material that speaks directly to English-speaking olim (Jewish immigrants), tourists, and expats. His comedy is rooted in the friction between his American Jewish upbringing and his new life as an Israeli newcomer.

Off The Wall Comedy Theater, located at 32 King David St in Jerusalem at the King Solomon Hotel, runs English shows every Thursday and Hebrew shows every Wednesday, with Saturday performances during the tourist season. The shows feature Kilimnick performing his current set alongside guest spots from Israel's top comedians. His solo shows include titles like "I Am Israeli," "The Honest Rabbi," "Defending Israel," and "The Aliyah Monologues" - a recurring series that reflects on the immigrant experience in Israel with sharp, personal humor. He has appeared on Beep, Israel's comedy television channel, represented Israel as a finalist in the Laugh Factory's Funniest Person in the World competition (notably declining to compete on Shabbat), and starred as Franz in Israel's production of the Broadway musical "The Producers." He also runs the Jerusalem Comedy Tour, a guided comedy walking experience of the city. As of 2026, Kilimnick has no major streaming special on Netflix or other platforms - his work is primarily experienced live, or through stand-up clips on his YouTube channel "Israel Comedy with David Kilimnick."

David Kilimnick performs weekly at Off The Wall Comedy Theater in Jerusalem and tours internationally. His website israelcomedy.com lists the full show schedule and booking information. For anyone visiting Jerusalem - or wanting to understand the English-language comedy scene in Israel - Kilimnick is the essential starting point.