Clowns

This clown eats bubbles, cracks jokes to help Israeli children recover from trauma

Israel is a global leader in medical clowning, a field that has grown in need since Oct. 7.

JULY 17, 2026|ByDEBORAH DANAN/JTA

Shorty, at left, is part of a thriving community of medical clowns in Israel.

Channah Appel trained to become a medical clown under the name of Channa Banana, inspired by the movie ‘Patch Adams.’

Clowning, caring, and claiming her voice: How Jerusalemite Channah Appel is making a difference

Channah Appel is using compassion, community initiatives, and quiet determination to make her mark in Israel.

APRIL 26, 2026|ByALAN ROSENBAUM

IDF PARATROOPER Menahem Ben-Halifa – from wounded soldier to medical clown.

This is how medical clowns are helping treat post-Oct. 7 trauma

Medical clowning benefits anyone who has undergone psychological trauma – especially the kind that has caused havoc among the survivors of October 7.

OCTOBER 17, 2024|ByJUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

A collection of clown figurines is part of the backdrop for “Clowns Like Me,” Scott Ehrenpreis’ autobiographical one-man show.

In a one-‘clown’ Off Broadway show, an actor takes the stigma out of mental illness

The New York Jewish Week talked with Ehrenpreis, 45, to hear about why this feels like the right time to tell his story, what he sees in clowns, and what he hopes audiences get out of the play.

JULY 12, 2024|ByCHAVA PEARL LANSKY/JTA

From Iraq to Israel to learn medical clowning

"The impact of war on children is devastating and its effects can last for decades after hostilities have ceased.”

JULY 1, 2018ByHERB KEINON

Yazidi Participants learn medical clowning

Big Apple Circus’ Grandma the clown resigns after pornography accusations

“The allegations are true. What I did was wrong, and I take full responsibility for my actions.”

JANUARY 25, 2018ByJTA

Walk on the lighter side

AVRAHAM SCHLISSEL - 67 FROM NEW YORK TO JERUSALEM, 1974.

JANUARY 4, 2018ByALAN ROSENBAUM

Clowning around

Fyodor Makarov and the Davai group present ‘Under Construction’

NOVEMBER 1, 2017ByMAXIM REIDER

My word: Send in the clowns

It started two weeks ago when the Israeli media became fixated on clowns of the worst kind – masked threatening figures who haunted the streets, apparently inspired by the newly-released movie It.

OCTOBER 19, 2017ByLIAT COLLINS