{{Short description|American magician (born 1997)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox person | image = | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of dates|28|2025|8|5|24|2022|7|19}} | birth_place = [[Queens]], New York City, U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|Magician|mentalist}} | spouse = {{marriage|Shani Roth|2022}} | website = {{URL|shlomolevinger.com}} }}

'''Shlomo Levinger''' (born 1997) is an American magician and mentalist. He has performed internationally and has been called "the athletes' magician" due to his performances for various major-league baseball teams,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Bensoussan |first=Barbara |date=August 5, 2025 |title=Works Like Magic |url=https://mishpacha.com/works-like-magic/ |access-date=2025-08-29 |website=[[Mishpacha Magazine]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and also posts videos of his performances online.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Janes |first=Jack |date=March 12, 2025 |title=Magician brings light-hearted fun to Angels clubhouse |url=https://www.thesportingtribune.com/2025/03/12/magician-brings-light-hearted-fun-to-angels-clubhouse |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=The Sporting Tribune |place=[[Tempe, Arizona]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Life and career == Shlomo Levinger was born in 1997<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 19, 2022 |title=The Jew Project: Shlomo Levinger, A 24-Year-Old Magician and Entertainer |url=https://crownheights.info/jewish-news/783104/the-jew-project-shlomo-levinger-a-24-year-old-magician-and-entertainer/ |access-date=September 14, 2025 |website=CrownHeights.info}}

{{Cite web |last=Bensoussan |first=Barbara |date=August 5, 2025 |title=Works Like Magic |url=https://mishpacha.com/works-like-magic/ |access-date=September 14, 2025 |website=[[Mishpacha Magazine]] |quote=Twenty-eight year old Shlomo has an affable, casual presence that puts his audience at ease.}}</ref> to Rabbi Chaim and Tova Levinger. He grew up in the [[Kew Gardens, Queens|Kew Gardens]] neighborhood of [[Queens, New York]], and has four siblings.<ref name=":5" /> He was a baseball fan<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Bollinger |first=Rhett |date=March 13, 2025 |title=Angels 'stunned' by magician who wows club with 'mind-blowing' tricks |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/shlomo-levinger-amazes-angels-with-magic-tricks |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=[[MLB.com]] |place=[[Tempe, Arizona]] |language=en}}</ref> and he studied at Yeshiva Ketana of Queens and Tiferes Moshe for elementary school, followed by [[Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim]] for high school.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Baruch |date=May 15, 2023 |title=How a Queens Yeshiva Boy Became a World-Class Magician for Celebrities and Athletes |url=https://vinnews.com/2023/05/15/how-a-queens-yeshiva-boy-became-a-world-class-magician-for-celebrities-and-athletes/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=[[VIN News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> His interest in magic began after he watched an online video of a magician performing card tricks. From then on, he continuously practiced magic as his skills progressed.<ref name=":3"/> After graduating high school he studied in Chofetz Chaim in Israel,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=March 26, 2024 |title=Exclusive Interview with Frum Mentalist/Magician Shlomo Levinger |url=https://jewishvues.com/articles/exclusive-interview-with-frum-mentalist-magician-shlomo-levinger/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=The Jewish Vues |language=en-US}}</ref> after which he returned to the United States and attended the Yeshiva of Waterbury.<ref name=":3"/>

Levinger began his career at the age of 14<ref name=":5" /> by performing [[street magic]] in New York City and posting videos of these performances online.<ref name=":3"/> His brother, Dave, serves as his videographer.<ref name=":5" /> At age 17, he started performing at small events,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=July 19, 2022 |title=The Jew Project: Shlomo Levinger, A 24-Year-Old Magician and Entertainer |url=https://crownheights.info/jewish-news/783104/the-jew-project-shlomo-levinger-a-24-year-old-magician-and-entertainer/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=CrownHeights.info |language=en}}</ref> with his first paid gig being a [[Chanuka]] party where he earned $50.<ref name=":3"/> He continued to perform at various events throughout his time at yeshiva.<ref name=":3"/> Levinger's career advanced in 2021 after baseball player [[Mike Trout]] started following him on [[Instagram]]. Initially skeptical, Levinger soon realized it was Trout's official account and sent him a message. Trout expressed interest in seeing Levinger perform live, leading to a special performance in late August 2021. Levinger entertained Trout, [[Justin Upton]], [[Dexter Fowler]], [[Alex Cobb]] and [[Anthony Rizzo]] in the [[Angel Stadium]] players' parking lot after a game against the [[New York Yankees]].<ref name=":3"/> The hour-long set, posted on YouTube, went [[Viral video|viral]] and attracted attention from other baseball players, including [[Alex Bregman]], who requested live performances.<ref name=":2"/>

Levinger is known for his performances for various sports teams, leading to him being named "the athletes' magician" by [[Sports Illustrated|''Sports Illustrated'']].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sandoval |first=Ricardo |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Watch Shohei Ohtani's Reaction to Insane Magic Trick in Dodgers Clubhouse |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/news/watch-shohei-ohtanis-reaction-to-insane-magic-trick-in-dodgers-clubhouse-rks97 |access-date=September 2, 2025 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He performed for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in their clubhouse during [[spring training]] in March 2024<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maguire |first=Brent |date=March 13, 2024 |title='Wow!' Ohtani blown away by clubhouse card trick |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-reaction-magic-trick |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=[[MLB.com]] |language=en}}</ref> and then for the [[Los Angeles Angels]] in March 2025.<ref name=":2"/> His performances have also included appearances for baseball teams such as the [[Houston Astros]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Dubey |first=Sanskar |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Alex Bregman and Astros Copy Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers' Trick to Improve Their Luck; Invites Magician Shlomo Levinger Into Their Clubhouse |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/mlb-baseball-news-alex-bregman-and-houston-astros-copy-shohei-ohtani-and-los-angeles-dodgers-trick-to-improve-their-luck-invite-magician-shlomo-levinger-into-their-clubhouse/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=EssentiallySports |language=en}}</ref> the New York Yankees, and the [[New York Mets]], and the [[Nashville Predators]] ice hockey team. He does not charge for his performances for sports teams, besides for travel expenses.<ref name=":5" />

He has also performed for celebrities such as [[Kris Bryant]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elsey |first=Jacob |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Mentalist Shlomo Levinger Boggles Shohei Ohtani's Mind With Befuddling Magic Trick |url=https://brobible.com/sports/article/magician-shlomo-levinger-card-trick-shohei-ohtani/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=BroBible |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Donovan Mitchell]],<ref name=":3" /> [[Ben Shapiro]],<ref name=":3" /> and companies like [[Sony]] and [[ABC Audio]].<ref name=":3" /> Additionally, he has performed at several charity events, including those for [[Joe Smith (basketball)|Joe Smith]] and [[Walker Buehler]],<ref name=":2" /> and at various international events.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

Levinger is described as having a casual, amiable, and non-threatening presence. His persona as a magician is portrayed as being "the guy next door" who has some cool tricks, aiming to create a "light energy" rather than something "creepy." He tries to be creative and original in his work, and he has a laid-back vibe and a natural, non-gimmicky style.<ref name=":5" />

Levinger is an [[Orthodox Jew]] and always performs wearing a [[yarmulke]] and [[Tzitzit|tzitzis]].<ref name=":3" /> He married Shani Roth in April 2022, and they live in [[Far Rockaway, New York]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=February 9, 2022 |title=Engagement of Shlomo Levinger to Shani Roth |url=https://simchaspot.com/blog/2022/02/09/engagement-of-shlomo-levinger-to-shani-roth/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |website=Simcha Spot |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=April 29, 2022 |title=Wedding of Shlomo and Shani Levinger |url=https://simchaspot.com/blog/2022/04/29/wedding-of-shlomo-and-shani-levinger/ |access-date=March 24, 2025 |website=Simcha Spot |language=en-US}}</ref> They had a son, Avi, in June 2025.<ref name=":5" />

== References == <references/>

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Levinger, Shlomo}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1997 births]] [[Category:American magicians]] [[Category:Jewish American entertainers]] [[Category:American Orthodox Jews]] [[Category:People from Kew Gardens, Queens]] [[Category:People from Far Rockaway, Queens]]