In March, when the Christchurch mosque shooting coincided with Zahra Noorbakhsh's own health crisis, the Iranian American comic found hope in the continued practice of Friday gatherings.

A rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes made comedian Zahra Noorbakhsh uneasy about performing live. Then she remembered a childhood experience that helped her regain her footing.

Comedian Zahra Noorbakhsh often jokes about being a "pork-eating, alcohol-drinking, married-to-an-atheist" Muslim. But lately she finds herself wanting to connect with her religious traditions.