Laughing, learning, and spreading Moshiach energy with Mordechi “Modi” Rosenfeld. Courtesy of AND HERE’S MODI.MOSHIACH ENERGY. Ever heard of it? Thanks to comedian/podcaster Mordechi ‘Modi’ Rosenfeld, it’s become my new favorite motto in life, and it’s something we should ALL follow. It’s like a bumper sticker or phrase I’d like to tape in my cubicle at work. In a world that has been so torn apart since the events of October 7, Moshiach energy is the solution for anyone feeling disillusioned or devastated these days.
If you know Modi well or listen to his podcast, AND HERE’S MODI (AH”M), you probably hear this term a lot. Moshiach energy (Moshiach means “messiah” in Hebrew) is defined as Modi’s charismatic spirit, a mood that everyone should follow in their lives. Variety, who interviewed Modi at the beginning of 2023, explains it best.
“For Rosenfeld, Moshiach energy is not a religious construct, but a way of living one’s life with a heavy emphasis on empathy and benevolence, of helping people in need, of doing whatever one can to inspire others to pour positivity into the universe.”
In other words, it’s a reminder that we should all “choose kind.” Let’s not hate. Let’s be positive. Let’s cheer people up who look like they need it. Let’s cheer people who are happy already and DON’T look like they need it! Let’s all just spread simcha (“joy”) in the world. My favorite thing about Judaism is exactly that: simcha. In the face of relentless tragedy, the Jewish people choose Moshiach energy to cope and inspire others to understand that although it feels like the rug is pulled out from under us, we must survive. The world isn’t “over” like my occasionally pessimistic, anxious voice in my head tells me. Positivity and sympathy will save us.
Now, if what I’m saying sounds too heavy for you and you’re worried about listening to AND HERE’S MODI, don’t worry. Modi is also just a really funny guy, and how I had never heard of him until now baffles me. I thought I was alone until I looked up his Instagram account and saw that nearly all of my Jewish friends follow him. It took me too long, and now I’ve already spent numerous days listening to the latest episodes of Modi’s podcast on my bike rides to work.
AND HERE’S MODI, which is also filmed and uploaded to YouTube, is co-hosted with his manager and husband, Leo Veiga, and writer/comedian Periel Aschenbrand, who also serves as founder and president of Body as Billboard, a t-shirt company whose goal is to feature meaningful messages across women’s chests for any inappropriate men who think it’s OK to gawk at women. The three of them, usually together in studio, chat about current events, both Jewish and not. It’s that simple, and although comedy podcasts with no “aim” may not appeal to some listeners, I absolutely love them. There’s something about listening to funny people gab that is so calming to the mind.
There’s something about Modi’s dry sense of humor, meshed with that New York accent and adorable smile, that continues to make me laugh more than I expect to. Now I understand why The New York Times once called him “the next Jackie Mason.”
“I did a show,” he says in the 100th episode of the series, which took place at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. “It was in South Florida, and the average age was deceased…”
In another episode, the topic of actress Cynthia Nixon choosing to fast to protest the Israel-Hamas War comes up.
“I literally hope that all of her [Cynthia Nixon’s] body parts stop working,” he says without a chuckle. “She’s not even fasting! It’s called intermittent fasting.”
Dryness and sarcasm are my two favorite things in comedy. Modi is a genius at both of them. His allure in the Jewish comedy world has grown excessively throughout the years. The Hollywood Reporter voted him as one of the top 10 comedians in New York City, and the comedian has also appeared on huge networks like ABC, NBC, Comedy Central, and much more. And this is crazy: Mayor Bill de Blasio even declared June 26 as “Mordechi Modi Rosenfeld Day” in New York City for his contributions to the artistic community. WHAT?!
Ironically, Modi, who immigrated to Long Island from Tel Aviv with his family when he was seven, didn’t expect to become the comedian he is today. In fact, he only first got into stand-up while working as an investment banker after graduating college. Upon playing around with his comedy “voice” onstage, Modi’s popularity grew.
“When you get comfortable on stage, you begin to find your voice. My voice was very Jewish, and it came out proud to be Jewish — not making fun or deprecating. It was just very, very proud,” he tells Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “When I do these amazing charity events to raise money and see Jews helping other Jews, I feel very proud. This is who I am. These are the people I’m from. It makes you proud. That’s how that voice grew.”
One thing I love about Modi’s comedy is that he does his best to ensure his listeners know the Jewish terms and jokes he discusses. He always takes a moment to explain a Jewish custom or phrase for any non-Jewish listeners.
“Just a few minutes before I go on stage, I take the opportunity to observe and understand the composition of the audience,” he tells Ynetnews. “This helps me tailor my performance accordingly, whether I’m performing in a gender-segregated venue in synagogues, which occasionally occurs, or at a bar in New York. I recognize that each audience is unique, and I make the necessary adjustments to ensure my jokes resonate and connect with them effectively.”
By educating his audience, Modi somehow celebrates the beauty of different cultures and beliefs. As a gay man married to a Catholic, he stresses that it’s OK to embrace what some find “different” in society. It’s OK to be gay and Jewish. It’s OK to be Jewish and married to a non-Jew. And if someone is uneasy about it, Modi suggests we open the door to conversation.
“I want a gay kid listening to me or reading this, a kid from, say, an Orthodox Jewish family, to know that you can still keep Shabbat and you can still be gay and you can still be happy and bring Moshiach energy into the world,” he tells Variety. “This is what it’s all about. It should not be, guess what, he’s gay. It should not be a scandal. This is a proud thing.”
Modi and Leo’s love story, I should add, is truly out of a rom-com. The two met in a New York subway in 2015. Leo, who was an intern at the talent agency CAA at the time, tapped him on the shoulder. They talked, went on a date, and now they’re married and working together on a podcast that is sure to put you in a good mood.
If you’re Jewish, give AND HERE’S MODI a listen. If you’re not Jewish and hope to better understand these harsh topics surrounding the community, give the podcast a listen. You will laugh but also feel a huge appreciation for a comedian really trying to increase conversations during this heated period in the world.
AND HERE’S MODI is available to listen to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.