‘My mother is German-Jewish and my father is Arab-Israeli which makes me Sri Lankan’

After October 7, stand-up comedian Rapha Manajem felt the understandable urge to withdraw and stop doing shows. The Melbourne-based comic was particularly disturbed by the scenes of protesters in Sydney celebrating the deaths of innocent people in Israel.

After some time a Muslim friend got in touch asking Manajem where he’d been. Manajem told him he had been feeling fear and shame and did not want to be out. 

“And he messaged me back and said ‘Look I’ve seen your act, fear and shame shouldn’t be anything new to you. You should’ve been feeling that the whole time. Don’t be stupid, come tell jokes,” Manajem says. 

For the most part, he says, fellow comedians have been supportive. 

“I don't think they take themselves seriously enough to feel like they can solve the world's problems.” 

Manajem is Jewish and describes his heritage as German, Israeli, Arab and Yemenite. His first solo comedy show, The Salmon Was Good, will deal with the divergent pieces of identity, including his own.

The show is loosely based on his German grandfather as well as a friend who had German grandparents who were both Jewish and gentile. Although he will be performing over Yom Kippur, Manajem insists he will be fasting.

“I don't want to talk about the [October 7] war or conflict or anything. I don't even necessarily want to talk about being Jewish. That's not the actual point of it. The point is to talk about being human and how confusing and frustrating it is, but also it's wonderful and funny.”

Manajem lived in Melbourne until he was eight-years-old when his parents moved the family to Brisbane. Manajem and his brother were the only Jewish children at their Brisbane school.