Comedy for Peace - Hartford Jewish Film Festival

After six weeks of emotional, thought-provoking films, we’ll wrap this festival up with a night of laughter. Comedy for Peace is an inter-faith comedy initiative founded in March 2019 that brings Muslim, Jewish, and Christian stand-up comedians together on the same stage to build community through laughter. No preaching, just punchlines — and a reminder that sometimes the best SOS is LOL.

Ellen Karis

Widely known as “The Greek Goddess of Comedy”—has performed stand-up across North America and released three comedy specials, including her latest, Dreams Don’t Come True, featured on the Dry Bar Comedy Channel. Beyond stand-up, Ellen is an accomplished actress, best recognized for her recurring role as a waitress on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, where she appeared for four seasons. She also hosts the popular weekly podcast Sweet and Salty with Ellen Karis, blending sharp humor with thoughtful, engaging conversations. In addition, Ellen is the author of the children’s book Special People: Godparents in the Orthodox Christian Faith, a heartfelt celebration of tradition, faith, and family.

Erik Angel
An Israeli-Jewish-American comedian and the founder of Comedy for Peace. Angel delivers comedy with heart, edge, and a global perspective. Born and raised in Israel and now based in New York, Erik has performed in over 100 cities across the U.S. and in more than a dozen countries worldwide. He’s opened for headliners like Maz Jobrani and Zarna Garg, appeared on NBC, and has been featured in numerous comedy festivals. His stand-up — which has racked up over 3 million views on TikTok — is sharp, high-energy, and deeply personal, tackling the hilarity and chaos of life as a recent immigrant, a Jewish newlywed in his forties, and someone who proudly speaks English-Falafel 24/7.
 

Gibran Saleem
Born in North Carolina, raised in Virginia in a Pakistani Muslim household, Gibran Saleem brings a unique voice and cross-cultural sensibility to the stage. He’s the only comedian ever to be a finalist for both Stand-Up NBC and the NBC Late Night Writers Program, and his sharp, introspective humor has earned him features on MTV, TV Land, Popcorn Flix, PBS, VOA, Elite Daily, and Cosmopolitan. Gibran made his stand-up television debut on Gotham Comedy Live for AXS TV and has since become a favorite on college campuses and comedy tours nationwide.

Natan Badalov  

A Bukharin-American comedian and writer based in New York City. Born in Uzbekistan, he immigrated to the United States in the early 1990s. His sharp, original comedy has been featured on Adult Swim and showcased at major festivals, including the New York Comedy Festival, Y’all Comedy Festival, and the Chosen Comedy Festival. In 2025, he released his debut comedy special, Connect the Dots, now available on YouTube.

Followed by a Panel Discussion and Reception