KOSHER KOMEDY

Ayelet "the Kosher Komic" has given up the spotlights of New York and Hollywood to make religious Jewish women laugh.

During her time in show business, Ayelet moved from New York to Hollywood, but now she has traded in the spotlight for a frum life in the Holy Land.

Her previous claims to fame include cameos on HBO, Comedy Central and Lifetime Television - not to mention stand-up acts at the NY Comedy Club and The Improv; now, the Kosher Komic has decided to entertain the female religious community that she joined two years ago when she moved to Jerusalem.

"These religious women do not have movies and TV, and not many outlets to have fun," says the 20-something comic. "They have great husbands and families, but there is laughter missing in their lives there is a bigger need for me in the religious community than in Hollywood; I am a pioneer."

According to the Kosher Komic, many religious women do not watch television or movies because the content is so immodest. She believes that her "Kosher Komedy," is opening new doors for such women in a kosher and enjoyable way.

One of her routines, known as "Glatt Kosher Airlines," contemplates what the safety instructions on such an airline might sound like: "Welcome to Glatt Kosher Airlines, flight number 613. Gentleman, I hope you can hear me through the mehitza (partition) my voice has been altered for your protection. In case of a tzniute emergency our entire flight crew has been trained in sewing kick pleats and extending hemlines "

Other acts include quite precise accents such as a Russian Barney, a Persian yiddishe mamma and an Indian Judaica salesman. She also dabbles in dieting, dating, kashrut, parenting and prayer rituals to name a few.

"We can laugh about things which do not make fun of people, which are not insulting or offensive. I make fun of an accent, make light of a situation, or find the funny side of religion," she explains.

The comic has performed at seminaries, in living rooms, at synagogue fundraisers but only in front of women.

"I have performed for men in the past, but since becoming the Kosher Komic I don't anymore. I am still working through my own issues of modesty, and I don't want another man to concentrate his energy on me. What if a man sees my show and thinks to himself, hey she's funny, my wife's not funny like her ," she says.

Ayelet is content with her new life in Jerusalem, where she says she lives humbly over a beit hamidrash in the Old City. She even jokingly calls herself "a flaming baal-teshuva," and laughs at how difficult it has been to locate her soulmate: "I am looking for my beshert and it has been really tough; if you know him, please call him and get him to come over."

Thanks to Isralight and Aish Hatorah, the Kosher Komic is leading a pretty happy existence, though she has come to terms with the fact that she will never be a superstar.

"I know I can't ever be world famous; my audience is Jewish women. I put my values and connection to God before my career; I am using my gifts to bring happiness and joy to Jewish women."