Bob Alper got an early start as a comedian.

“I was a funny toddler,” he said, in an interview by phone from his home in Vermont.

The comic, an ordained rabbi who bills himself as “the world’s only practicing clergyman doing stand-up comedy — intentionally” will perform Sunday evening at Congregation Orh Tfazon in Atascadero.

Alper served Jewish congregations for 14 years before hitting upon a second career in comedy in 1986, when he entered a Jewish Comic of the Year Contest at the Going Bananas club in Philadelphia, placing third behind a chiropractor and a lawyer.

Since then, he’s found international success, with tours in North America and England and appearances on “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” “Showtime,” and regular airplay on Sirius/XM satellite radio. And he’s not tired of it yet.

“Doing comedy is a healthy addiction,” he said. “You really want to do it as often as possible. It’s such validation every time somebody laughs.”

Alper’s comedy is geared to appeal to a broad audience, and is clean and family-friendly.

“What I do is material that is appropriate for people of all faiths, and no faith,” he said. “There’s nothing esoteric.”

Alper’s show on Sunday is a solo gig, but he often appears with Muslim comedy partners such as Azhar Usman and Ahmed Ahmed. In 2009 he visited Cal Poly with Christian comedian Nazareth.

As for his upcoming show, Alper says, “I can’t wait for this weekend because I have a new joke to try out. ... For me, if that one joke works that makes the weekend. I can’t wait to try it.”

Bob Alper performs at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Congregation Orh Tzafon, 2605 Traffic Way, Atascadero (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). Tickets are $18 in advance and $22 at the door. Children age 11 and up are welcome. Call 466-0329 for more information.