You always draw on your experiences with live audiences to know how to do comedy on films. You're working for a laugh that may or may not come six months later, but you're working in a vacuum at the time you are doing it.

I remain convinced that I can be a true universalist only when I am a better Jew.

In my world, history comes down to language and art.

But there is a difference here: When Jewish children are murdered, Arabs celebrate the deed. The death of an Arab child is no cause for celebration in Israel.

We live in a world of guns, bombs and terror. To conquer hate seems a nigh-impossible task.

I prefer to make common cause with those whose weapons are guitars, banjos, fiddles and words.

I refuse to do shows that are narrowly constructed, that appeal to only one sentiment. I do a lot of Jewish material in front of non-Jews and a lot of non-Jewish material in front of Jews on the simple theory that the non-Jews are entitled to a glimpse of a Jewish world and the Jews are entitled to a glimpse of the world.