Zach Margs Built a Jewish Comedy Empire. Now Comes His Hardest Role.
Rising Jewish comedian Zach Margolin faces career transformation due to upcoming spinal surgery. From real estate to viral comedy, discover his journey and plans for the future.
Zach Margolin, known as Zach Margs, isn’t just a comedian. He’s a phenomenon. With millions of views across TikTok and Instagram, a loyal following from the Jewish world and beyond, and a brand of humor that bridges cultures, languages, and politics, London-based comic is only in his 30s and already has become one of the most recognizable faces of a new generation of Jewish entertainers.
But his path to the spotlight was far from straightforward.
The Road Ahead (and a Pause)
Looking forward, Margolin dreams big. “I want to be on bigger stages, have millions of followers, do shows for thousands, a comedy special on streaming. I want to be the number one Jewish comedian.”
But for now, life has forced a pause.
In the coming weeks, he’ll undergo spinal fusion surgery, a major procedure that will leave him hospitalized for 10 days and unable to twist his back for six months. “It’s going to change things. I won’t be able to do shows, and consistency is everything in social media. I’m worried.”
He was due to travel to Israel in just ten days. “But I’m in a lot of pain, I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it.”
Although, Margolin is not someone who steps back. Ready to turn his career into something new, compatible with his upcoming life challenge, the public may expect from him a lot of laugh and good innovative content.
From Real Estate to Real Laughs
Before comedy, Margolin was deeply embedded in a different reality, literally. He studied business in the UK and went on to earn a master’s degree in real estate from City University in London. “I started in real estate in Nottingham,” he recalls. “I thought it would be a good option. If I got enough resources, I could start being a comedian.”
That moment came in 2019 when he left his “big real estate job” to pursue filmmaking at NET Film School in London. But it was TikTok, and his sharp observational humor about Israeli culture, that catapulted him to internet fame.
“My grandfather was a professional comedian in his 20s,” he says. “He and my dad loved comedy. I grew up watching it, I always wanted to do it. I just didn’t know how.”
A Love Letter to Israel Through Satire
Despite never having lived in Israel, Margs’ connection to the country runs deep. “I grew up spending summers and winters there, went on school trips and youth programs. My best childhood memories are from Israel. And as an adult, friends, weddings, I just feel the most free and myself when I’m there.”
His skits often poke fun at Israeli behaviors, slang, and culture, but always from a place of affection and familiarity. “At the beginning, I was just observing things as a tourist. Then I wanted to create something authentic. I practiced Hebrew, made Israeli friends, and really tried to understand. I always ask questions, because I want to be legit.”
Post-October 7th: Finding Purpose Through Humor
Like many Jews around the world, Margs felt the ripple effects of October 7th personally and professionally. But instead of withdrawing, he doubled down.
“I didn’t have a career before the war. I was very small,” he admits. “But the war caused so much antisemitism, and every day I saw negativity online. I thought someone needed to be positive. It gave me a greater purpose.”
That purpose turned into an online presence centered on Jewish pride, joy, and resilience. “I was doing comedy before, but nothing so inspiring.”
Jewish Pride and Tikun Olam
A theme that weaves throughout Margs’ work is tikun olam, the Jewish concept of repairing the world. “That’s my whole message,” he explains. “Bringing joy and helping people find light in darkness.”
Raised in a deeply Jewish home, Margs is unabashedly open about his roots. He hopes his visibility will empower younger Jews to feel proud, especially those hesitant to share their identity online. “Be authentic,” he says. “Be vulnerable. That’s what shines. If you’re Jewish, be proud and do it.”
A Family Dream Fulfilled
Despite the sudden fame and the challenges ahead, Margolin remains grounded in his support system. “My mom is my biggest fan. My uncle jokes that he’s fed up with people asking if he’s related to me. But they’re proud, it’s what I always wanted.”
He cites Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, and Sacha Baron Cohen as major inspirations, but it’s his friends and fans who keep him going. “There’s no Zach without the followers. I love meeting them, talking to them after shows, even on the street.”
Being Jewish in London: “Scary, but I’m Proud”
While Margs loves British culture, “the humor, the streets, the football, the food”, he doesn’t shy away from the fear many British Jews now feel. “It’s scary, I won’t lie. I’ve seen posters, heard stories. There’s so much hate. I wouldn’t walk around with a kippah.”
Still, he sees himself as proudly British and proudly Jewish. “And I love that I can blend both.”
A Message to His Younger Self, and Others
If he could go back in time, Margs says, he’d tell his younger self one thing: “Be kind to everyone. You never know when you’ll need them, and they’ll remember if you were kind.”
To anyone joining his journey now? “It’s going to be a fun ride. You’ll see Israel in a cool way, not just war, and watch me make a fool of myself.”
And to those thinking about starting their own comedic path?
“Start by being yourself. That’s always the funniest version.”