Recently, I conquered my stage fright and walked on stage for the open mic night at the Off The Wall Comedy Basement in Jerusalem. Though my palms were a little—okay, really—sweaty and my voice was a little—well, very—wobbly, I managed to select a current pop favorite from the karaoke machine and tried to block out all the people whose eyes were on me. A woman from the crowd, a stranger sensing my all-too-obvious nervousness, yelled out a cheer, and before I knew it I was singing at the popular Off The Wall Comedy Basement.

Off The Wall Comedy Basement opened in 2004, making the venue Jerusalem's first comedy club. Priding itself on being family-friendly, Off The Wall Comedy Basement also features both Hebrew and English performances, making the club a great destination whether you've resided in Israel all your life or if you're just vacationing here for the week. It's also located in a great neighborhood near Palatin Hotel, one of my personal favorites.

Off The Wall Comedy Basement features an array of comedians and guest comedians who will have you laughing in no time. Make sure to catch a performance by David Kilimnick, who founded Off The Wall Comedy Basement. Kilimnick used to be a rabbi in upstate New York and humorously depicts his journey from Rochester, New York to Jerusalem. Other talented performers include Ari Louis (originally from Phoenix, Arizona), Boris Melamed, who was raised in Germany and Latvia, and Charley Warady, writer of the book IN-FIDELITY. If you're interested in stepping out of the audience and performing comedy yourself, then the Off The Wall Comedy Basement's open mic night for comedy and poetry is for you.

In addition to comedy, Off The Wall Comedy Basement offers musical performances. Off The Wall Comedy Basement has held shows by Elazar Brandt, who has recorded an album and plays an array of instruments, including the banjo and tuba. The venue has also hosted Floxy Blu, a Toronto native who has also played in Connecticut. Other performers include the Avtala Band, Mike Perry, and Abbie Silber. After the scheduled performers step off the stage, open mic night begins. The karaoke nights are the perfect opportunity to showcase your musical talent in a fun, casual setting.

Off The Wall Comedy Basement is a unique and important venue in Jerusalem because it welcomes seasoned performers, newcomers, and everyone in between. It is a place where performers of different backgrounds come together, a place where families are welcome, and a place that offers great shows throughout the week. They're even nice enough to let singers like me up on the stage.