Jon Stewart — who regularly invoked his Jewishness for laughs, often self-deprecatingly but with obvious pride — is leaving “The Daily Show” later this year.

Stewart, 52, announced his plans to step away from the anchor desk during a taping of the program on Feb. 10.

Although Stewart did not found “The Daily Show,” his 16-year reign as its anchor transformed the show into a political and cultural touchstone that satirized news and newsmakers with a combination of absurd humor, caustic wit and sharp reporting.

Stewart, born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz, regularly made clear that he is not a religious Jew. He periodically drew fire for his criticisms of Israel — criticism that he, in turn, lampooned on the show. — jta