From childhood aspirations to the Holy Land

In our Alumni Spotlight series, we proudly showcase the remarkable journeys of former participants of Taglit-Birthright Israel. We take immense pride in the incredible young Jewish people who have been a part of this transformative experience; they’re talented, bright, and full of chutzpah.

This series looks at our alumni’s “then and now” lives, celebrating their accomplishments, passions, and contributions to the world. We knew from the moment our young people embarked on their Taglit-Birthright Israel journey that they would walk diverse paths, forever making a positive impact on their communities and beyond.

Throughout the series, we chat with these outstanding individuals, learning about their post-trip adventures, professional endeavors, and how their connection to Israel and Judaism continues to shape their lives.

In this installment of our Alumni Spotlight, we spoke with the hilarious and ambitious Josh Cahn. 

The best way to introduce Cahn is to tell you that in fourth grade, he wanted to play Tevye (Tuvya) in Fiddler on the Roof—and he earned the role of the bartender instead. He hasn’t stopped shooting for Tevye, but is always ready to take up whatever opportunity comes his way. From bit part to Chosen Comedy Fest winner, Cahn gave us the lowdown on his life as a Jewish comedian, actor, and bagel enthusiast. 

Israel: Josh’s Outdoor Adventure 

Josh Cahn journeyed to the land of Israel with Taglit-Birthright Israel in 2017. 

Identifying as “a cultural Jewish person,” Josh wanted to build a connection to Israel and his community.

“Some of the people on my trip I still speak to this day,” he told us. Besides finding that community, he admits his favorite part of the adventure was the food. 

Taglit-Birthright Israel encourages participants to step outside their comfort zone, immerse themself in the culture, and try something new. So, although Cahn wouldn’t describe himself as “the most active person in the United States when it comes to hiking and being in nature,” he opted to embark on the adventure. 

He fondly cited one of his favorite parts of the trip as the nighttime. “Wherever we were staying, playing games, connecting [and] learning about [fellow trip participants] and their Jewish identity…They were really awesome people, and they gave me an interesting perspective.”

Acting Jewish: Dipping into Yiddish and Different Jewish Identities. 

It was Cahn’s first time in Israel, but not his first connection to his Jewish roots. He grew up celebrating Jewish holidays and attending a conservative shul. His upbringing and Taglit-Birthright Israel trip have helped him take on Jewish roles. He observed that in playing different kinds of Jews—from New York secular to straight-up Chassidic—he has learned a lot about Judaism as a whole. 

“I did a play in 2018-19 where I had to learn a little bit of Yiddish for it, and there was no language coach; there was no dialect coach.” So Josh learned the mamaloshen. “I thought that was really rewarding because I got to connect to my culture in a new way,” he shared.

Triumphant Laughter: The Chosen Comedy Festival Victory

Roles that Cahn is most proud of include ones in The Plot Against America, as well as an upcoming film titled Burying Bubby. 

“It’s about how he [my character] lost his grandmother, who survived the Holocaust. And he lost her during Covid. And how that [impacted] his family. And how crazy it was to lose someone. During that time, rabbis weren’t working. So he had a rental rabbi, and the rabbi is played by Robert Smiegel.”

Like Cahn, Robert Smiegel was also a comic at The Chosen Comedy Festival, which was sponsored by Taglit-Birthright Israel Beyond. “We got to connect about the festival, which was super awesome.” 

When Cahn initially heard about The Chosen Comedy Festival, he knew it was exactly the kind of comedy show that he wanted to perform in—his new Tevye. 

“I’ve been following the festival on social media channels since its first festival in LA. I was like, ‘What a cool festival. I would love to be involved someday.’ [That’s] literally what I thought when I first followed them on social media.” Cahn explained. “So I’m on their email list, and they sound out their email. ‘Hey, you want to be on stage? Go ahead. Submit the form.’ I submitted the form, and I didn’t hear for a fair amount of time. I even said to my partner, ‘I don’t think I got it.’ And I was sad about it. Then I was on vacation in Oregon, and I got the email saying that I made the top 10, and of course, I’m running around the room so excited.”

Winning the festival meant that Josh Cahn took the mainstage at the Coney Island Amphitheater in Brooklyn, New York, in front of over 4,000 Jewish comedy fans. 

“It was an incredible career moment and not one that I’ll forget soon.” 

Beyond the amazing experience of performing, Cahn cherished connecting with incredible Jewish comedians who have perfected their craft for many years. His friends, parents, and the love of his life were also in the audience. “They were a real part of this journey,” he said.

From Sitcoms to Future Adventures

And the journey isn’t over. 

Cahn is continuing to take strides to build his career in the acting and comedy world. Ultimately, his goal is to be on a sitcom long term, “multicam, single cam,” whatever it is, he loves comedic acting. He would love to “split time between working on television and film and commercial projects with the occasional theater appearance,” he explained with a grin. Whether it’s standup, television, film, or theater, Josh Cahn is ready.