Not really sure what show you're referring to but if the joke is in fact, "Jesus was Jewish" it's not a joke, he was, and his birth name was Joseph.
2008: Feb. 18- Rent, Feb. 19- Curtains, April 18- Xanadu, April 22- Wicked, April 26- Legally Blonde, May 31- Wicked, June 13- The Little Mermaid, June 28- Wicked and Young Frankenstein, July 2- The Little Mermaid, July 6- A Chorus Line and Legally Blonde, August 16- Xanadu, September 13- Legally Blonde and 13, September 28- Xanadu and Spring Awakening, Oct. 12-GYPSY and [title of show], Oct. 19- Hairspray & Legally Blonde, Nov. 9- Wicked and 13, Dec. 14-13, Dec. 26- Billy Elliot, 2009: Jan 1- Shrek, Jan 2- 13 and Wicked, Jan 4- 13, Feb 17- In The Heights, Feb 19- Billy Elliot, Feb 22- Sweeney Todd (tour), March 28- Mary Poppins, April 4- Mamma Mia!, April 15- Jersey Boys (on tour), April 25- next to normal & 9 to 5
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I think the assumption is that Princeton is Jewish. The point of the joke is that it comes after Gary and Kate argue about whether or not Jesus is black.
I always just assumed it was, like, an anti semitic joke...
"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise
Kate and Gary argue whether Jesus was white or black, so Princeton says, "Jesus was Jewish" to put him into a stereotype where they can make racist/antisemitic jokes. "Everyone's a little bit racist", of course, so they laugh about him being Jewish.
I've never really found it to be anti-semitic joke, since Jesus as a person was Jewish. That's why I've always found the whole whether Jesus is black or white argument hilarious because he would have been Middle Eastern.
Uh. The white person says Jesus is white. The black person says Jesus was black. (and although Princeton is a DAMN odd name for a Jew) The Jewish person points out he's Jewish. They all laugh at their prejudices.
I thought I read somewhere how Elton John also thinks Jesus was Jewish.
Herbie: "Honey, Don't you know there's a depression?"
Rose: "Of Course I know, I Watch Fox News"
-(modified)Gypsy
Broadway Schedule
December 5th- Hamilton, On Your Feet
December 19th- Noises Off, Edith Piaf Concert at Town Hall
you guys, Jesus was definitely white. my grandma had a portrait of him in her house forever and you could even see he had blue eyes to go with his sandy brown hair.
"Uh. The white person says Jesus is white. The black person says Jesus was black. (and although Princeton is a DAMN odd name for a Jew) The Jewish person points out he's Jewish. They all laugh at their prejudices."
It's more like the monster thinks Jesus is white, the black guy thinks Jesus is black, when someone points out that Jesus was Jewish, the other two think that's absurd and laugh.
There's no textual support for Princeton being Jewish, anyway.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Brian's the Jewish character, as evidenced by the characters wearing yarmulkas during the wedding. So he comes out as soon as Princeton says "Jesus was Jewish" since he's the next race being made fun of.
Hasn't anyone seen the bumper sticker that reads, "My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter."?
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert