If you’re of a certain age and Jewish and aren’t familiar with Judy Gold, well, sorry, but that seems wrong.
For more than 40 years, this 6-foot-2 comedy force of nature has been making audiences laugh — and occasionally squirm — with her no-holds-barred stand-up, which has landed her specials on HBO, Comedy Central and Netflix’s “Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration.” Gold doesn’t just do funny — she is funny, in a smart, fearless, opinionated-Jewish-mom kind of way.
At 62, she’s still going strong. Gold hosts a weekly podcast called “It’s Judy’s Show with Judy Gold,” where she riffs with guests on everything from politics to parenting to pop culture. She’s written and starred in off-Broadway hits, appeared in more films and TV shows than she can probably remember and even dropped a few comedy albums back when people still bought those.
A proud mom to two grown sons — Henry, 28, and Ben, 23 — Gold is also a passionate activist, championing LGBTQ+ rights and vocally supporting Israel’s right to exist and thrive. (She’s never been one to shy away from tough conversations, especially after Oct. 7, 2023.)
Before her upcoming gig at City Winery St. Louis on Thursday, May 29, she sat down with the Jewish Light to talk comedy, activism, parenting and why she’s still doing stand-up in a world that’s constantly trying to cancel people.
Your comedy often blends personal stories with sharp social commentary—how do you strike that balance between humor and honesty?
Nothing is funny unless it’s the truth. And comedians are truth-tellers. That’s the reason why authoritarians and dictators abhor us. Great comedy is not only honest, but also a weapon and a coping mechanism. But when you are attacked by that weapon, there’s really no way to defend yourself unless you have a sense of humor about yourself and self-knowledge and humility. So that’s why dictators hate satire and hate comedians. Comedians are the ones who are going to call you out, with humor, which makes (the truth) more palatable. So great comedy not only makes you laugh, but it can also make you think and ultimately change and open your mind.
You’ve had a long and successful career. How has your comedic voice evolved over time, especially with shifts in culture and politics?
As you grow and go through life, your act and your point of view grow with you. Your life experiences shape your comedy. I’ve always been a very out, proud Jew and a very out, proud gay person. My Jewishness has really shaped how I see the world — and now, more than ever, I think it’s crucial to speak from that place. It’s sad to me that some Jewish comedians are saying, “I’m cutting the Jewish stuff from my act.” Now, it’s more important than ever to talk about your pride in being Jewish.
Comedically speaking, who helped to shape your voice? Who are your biggest influences?
Well, Joan Rivers — of course. She was extraordinary and a real mentor to me. I just loved her. And Totie Fields — oh, I loved her so much. She had a huge influence on me. I also really admired Moms Mabley. And Jean Carroll — I knew of her, but I didn’t fully discover her until I was researching my book (“Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come for the Comedians We Are All in Trouble”). She was such a force, truly the first female stand-up. These women paved the way — they were fearless, and they told the truth, which is everything in comedy.
Your one-woman show “25 Questions for a Jewish Mother” was based on interviews with more than 50 Jewish moms across the U.S. What stuck with you most from those conversations?
We (Gold and Kate Moira Ryan) started writing the show when I became a Jewish mother. Initially, I was like, I’m a Jewish mother, but I don’t fit the stereotype. But then I realized — I do so many stereotypical things.
So, we went on this journey to find out if the stereotypes were real. What we found was that these women were so different — such individuals. They were all at different levels of Jewish observance. Some were very Orthodox, and I remember one woman asked me what a shiva was.
But the one thing they all had in common was this unconditional love for their children. And when we visited them in their homes, every single one of them served us food.
Jewish humor has such a rich legacy. Do you see yourself as part of that tradition—and how would you define it today?
What’s interesting is that there are many different kinds of Jewish humor. There’s the victim—like Larry David—the nebbish, the “Why me?” guy. Then there’s the clown and the brash, outspoken Jewish woman. It’s all part of it. And it’s universal—that’s the beauty of Jewish humor.
The minute you make someone laugh, they like you. You have the power.
But especially now, since Oct. 7th, I also feel this responsibility to educate—to say things that matter, and to say them in a funny way. Like: Israel is a democracy. I have a joke about how you can do things in Israel now that you can no longer do in the United States, like have an abortion.
People might tune out if you yell that at them. But if you say it with humor, they’ll listen.
In today’s climate, have you faced pushback for being outspoken—especially when your comedy touches on politics or identity? How do you navigate that on stage?
They call me “Genocide Judy” on social media. I’ve had people yell “Free Palestine” or “Israel is an apartheid state” while I’m on stage. I’ve had protesters show up at my shows. I gain followers and lose followers every single week—it’s mind-boggling.
But here’s the thing: comedy weakens propaganda. That, to me, is the most important thing I can do right now—use my comedy to chip away at the propaganda.
Since Oct. 7, it’s been a whole different world. On Oct. 6, I could tell a benign joke about my mother and get solid laughs. On Oct. 8, those same surefire jokes were getting muted laughs or nothing at all. That’s antisemitism, plain and simple.
And I will call it out. I have nothing to lose.
When folks come to see you at City Winery, what should they expect?
Here’s the preparation: Sit the f— down, have a nice glass of wine and be ready to laugh your tuchus off. And don’t take yourself seriously because we’re there to laugh and that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
See Judy Gold for free—or at a discount
We’re giving away 5 pairs of tickets to see Emmy-winning comedian Judy Gold live at City Winery St. Louis on May 29 at 7:30 p.m.! Enter now for your chance to win and be part of an unforgettable night of truth-telling, laughter and wine.
Not feeling lucky? We’ve got you covered anyway. Use promo code JCC25 for 25% off your ticket at citywinery.com/st-louis. Whether you win or just save, you’ll be in the room for one of comedy’s boldest voices—funny, fearless and unapologetically Jewish.
