Bob Alper is the only rabbi in the country who regularly addresses congregations that require a cover charge and a two-drink minimum. Sound funny? You bet it is. Because Bob is the world's only practicing clergyman doing stand-up comedy... intentionally.
His fresh, contemporary, and totally "unorthodox" style has been delighting audiences from Hollywood's IMPROV and The Montreal Comedy Festival to London theatres. And Bob Alper's unique brand of humor appeals to everyone - from a synagogue or church crowd to a corporate event to a typical Saturday night comedy club.
A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Bob Alper is a graduate of Lehigh University, was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, and is the first Jewish person ever to earn a doctorate from the Princeton Theological Seminary.
He has served congregations in Buffalo and Philadelphia, where he continues to conduct High Holiday services.
Bob Alper began his comedy career in 1986 when he entered the "Jewish Comic of the Year Contest” at the Going Bananas club in Philadelphia. He recalls, "the audience laughed and I was hooked." Television, radio and personal appearances followed as he quickly honed his distinctive approach to stand-up comedy.
Bob Alper is heard several times daily on the clean comedy channels of XM and Sirius satellite radio. He's been seen on Good Morning America, Showtime, and Comedy Central, and was featured on Extra, TV's top-rated entertainment program.
Today, Bob Alper performs nearly 100 shows per year, drawing tremendous audience numbers and response wherever he appears. His act is clean, his humor is gentle, and he is a charming and affable comedian.
Bob is the author of two books that further showcase his considerable talents: Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This (subtitled The Holiness of Little Daily Dramas) which The Detroit Free Press called “a volume of spiritual gems” in a four-star review (Liguori Publications, 1996). And A Rabbi Confesses, an award-winning full-color cartoon book based on his stand-up act (Finkstrom Productions, 1995).
His comedy albums, Bob Alper: Rabbi/Stand-Up Comic (Really) and his brand new CD, Guaranteed Funny: 101 Totally Clean Jokes, are best-sellers.
Bob Alper resides in Vermont with his wife Sherri, a psychotherapist.
