Comedy Magician Avi Frier is a Torah-observant Jew and former Jewish educator. He has performed across the country and around the world, entertaining celebrities, appearing on television, and performing for large corporations, private parties, and in public showcases.

MORE THAN MAGIC: When you book The Magical Comedy of Avi for your Jewish organization, you also get a Torah-based, real-life educational program for teens, college students, and/or adults. This program can be delivered as a separate talk or set within Avi’s comedy magic act.

Mussar From The Dice Man:
“How I Pursued My Dream Career Without Compromising Torah Values”

Show business and Orthodox Judaism are two worlds that can be diametrically opposed; Avi has consequently dealt with numerous religious challenges throughout his career.

This entertaining program is a Torah-based, interactive discussion in which Avi shares five simple rules he has learned over the years, which have enabled him to pursue his unorthodox dream career without compromising his Torah observance. Each rule is colorfully illustrated with stories “from the trenches” of the world of entertainment.

Program Content

Intro: Follow Your Dreams
What we learn from Yosef (Joseph) about the significance of our dreams and how they affect us and the people around us.

Rule #1: Stick To Your Guns
What the Torah portion of Ki Tavo teaches us about the importance of being unwavering in our dedication, both to our dreams and our Torah values.

Rule #2: Unleash Your Niche
A lesson from the Rosh Hashanah machzor that highlights each person’s obligation to find his/her unique purpose in the world.

Rule #3: DIY a Rabbi
The Mishna in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) famously imparts the necessity to have a rebbe we can turn to with our questions; with closer examination, we can also learn exactly the way the relationship should (and should not) be treated.

Rule #4: Remember The School Bus Speech
The imperative of making a Kiddush Hashem (sanctifying God’s name), avoiding Chilul Hashem (desecrating God’s name), and always behaving as though the entire world is watching (because they are!). This segment sheds light on the program’s title and shares religious advice Avi received from the most unlikely of sources.

Rule #5: Give Back!
What we learn from the Torah portion of Vayakhel about the essential role creative people play in Jewish life, and our responsibility to contribute our talents for the benefit of the community.

Program Format

Depending on the audience and event format, there are multiple ways this program can be presented.

Interactive Lecture:
Presentation in Keynote format, followed by Q&A. This can be optionally capped with a 10-minute magic performance.

Comedy Magic Performance with Lecture:
The show begins like any other performance, with the Interactive lecture inserted just before the show’s finale. In many cases, the audience does not know in advance that there is an educational component to the show (in fact, they are sometimes surprised to discover that the performer is a Torah observant Jew). This can dramatically increase the impact of the lecture.

In-Depth Examination of Torah Sources:
Avi provides two pages of Torah sources with questions for discussion. These can be studied with a teacher or in a chaburah format, with Avi’s interactive lecture serving as a wrap-up. Alternatively, they can be distributed as a companion to the lecture.

Multiple Venues:
The program can be split between two completely different times and venues. For example, Avi may perform his comedy magic show for a Jewish school’s gala dinner, and then speak to the students in school the next day. For a shul event, Avi may present the educational program on Shabbat and perform on Saturday night.

What Educators Are Saying…