Roughly a month after the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre, Yechiel Jacobs hit a breaking point.
Scrolling through social media, he saw an avalanche of anti-Israel posts, including one claiming that if Orthodox commentator Ben Shapiro and Jewish actress Amy Schumer were on one side of an issue, you should automatically take the other. That’s when Jacobs, 23, decided to fight back — not with arguments, but with comedy.
“I was so fed up with what I was seeing,” Jacobs told Unpacked. “It wasn’t slowing down, so I decided I needed to react and take a comedic twist to it. I had done the accent for friends and family, but nothing public before. I figured I would use the same character to respond to these stupid videos. I was venting for myself and didn’t expect it to go anywhere, but it exploded from there.”
Raised on Long Island after being born in Jerusalem, Jacobs now lives in Florida. On Instagram, he boasts 213,000 followers and another 58,000 on TikTok. His breakout character mimics the exaggerated cadence of comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, whom Jacobs credits as inspiration.
“He exposes stupidity in a funny way that also brings out the truth in a clever way, so it felt right,” Jacob said.
Jacobs said it especially bothered him to see people call for a ceasefire while ignoring the hostages held in Gaza, explaining that the volume of misinformation online was too much to ignore.
Yechiel Jacobs’ comedy has received anti-Israel hate
Jacobs anticipated some backlash, but not the level of vitriol that came with his viral debut.
“There was a lot of hate in the beginning,” he said. “My first video went viral because it was spread in the anti-Israel community, so I was exposed to hate right off the bat. I was okay with it against me, but it was getting very personal as people were trying to find out who my family members were. It got very intense.”
Jacobs admits he considered quitting after receiving disturbing messages and threats.
“There was a point where I wondered if I should stop,” he said. “I made the decision that I was doing what needed to be done and said what needed to be said. By stopping, that would mean that their threats were effective, and that is what they want. So, I decided to put out more content. I learned to block out all the hate.”
He found encouragement from other outspoken Jewish creators, including Montana Tucker, with whom he collaborated during a time when many celebrities stayed silent on antisemitism.
A bit of light amid the doom scrolling
Jacobs said the horror of Oct. 7 was devastating on its own — the videos released by Hamas were graphic and deeply disturbing, and the fate of the hostages weighed heavily on everyone’s minds. But as if that weren’t enough, the internet quickly became flooded with misinformation: claims that the attack wasn’t terrorism, that Israel was entirely to blame, or that it was committing genocide.
“At the time, the videos we saw about Israel-Palestine were very heavy, and it was doom-scrolling,” Jacobs said, describing the experience of viewing negative or upsetting things on social media for long durations of time, not able to turn away.
“On my page, you were getting a bit of comic relief, and the person posting an antisemitic video got proven wrong and made fun of. It allowed people who might not otherwise care about Israel to watch it if they wanted a laugh.”
Jacobs says he’s touched by fans who tell him his videos help them feel prouder and less alone. But there’s also an unexpected side effect to going viral: matchmaking.
“The Jewish moms are very persistent,” Jacobs said.
Humor that tells the truth
Jacobs takes time crafting each sketch — sometimes up to two hours — to ensure it’s relevant, truthful, and leaves viewers smiling.
“I’m doing humor about a very sensitive topic,” Jacobs said. “Thank God, I’ve been able to navigate it well, where I’m not being insensitive. I’m showing the stupidity and ignorance of some people’s videos, but paying respects to what’s actually happening regarding October 7 and the hostages. Certain lines are funny, but I would not put them in because it is too insensitive. I’m not gonna push it too much.”
Following his online success, Jacobs was invited by producer Erez Safar to join “Laugh Through the Heartbreak,” a touring comedy show created to provide some levity in the wake of October 7. He accepted and performed a 10-minute set at LA’s iconic Laugh Factory. Since then, he’s appeared on stage in Mexico, Australia, and other cities across the world.
“I went for it — and I loved it,” he said, noting he even slipped in a joke about life in Florida.
A need to know more history
While Jacobs has learned much through experience, he believes Jewish students need a stronger foundation in Jewish and Israeli history. While many Jews know the basics about Israel and the history of antisemitism, Jacobs emphasized the importance of having a stronger foundation in these topics in order to call out propaganda.
“I know a lot more because I’m in it,” Jacobs said. “But there needs to be an emphasis on knowing what’s going on and what has happened. We’ve been slacking. A lot know the basics, but not enough of the dates, the history, and the arguments being made. If schools can make that happen, it would be great.”
Jacobs, who was known as “the funny guy” at Mesivta Ateres Yaakov (MAY) on Long Island, says he’s open to serious debate with critics of Israel and antisemites — under one condition.
“I wouldn’t do it in character,” he said. “If I’m going up against someone who thinks they know what they’re talking about, I want to be taken seriously. I’m not pushing for it, though. Right now, I’m focused on making videos and doing comedy shows.”
Standing up with Jewish pride
With antisemitism surging across college campuses and online, Jacobs offered advice to Jewish students who are afraid to wear visible symbols like a Magen David or speak up in class.
“It depends on the situation,” he said. “If you’re somewhere dangerous, be smart. But if you’re just afraid of social backlash, I say be proud. Stand up and fight the fear — because if we give in to that fear, they win. We lose our voice, our identity. If we’re not speaking up for truth, who will?”
Originally Published May 21, 2025 02:07AM EDT
