Jesus: The

By Jack Miles

URL: http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/jesus_the_allamerican_jew_20040416/

"Jesus in America: Personal Savior, Cultural Hero, National Obsession" by Richard Wightman Fox (HarperSanFrancisco, $27.95).

"American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon" by Stephen Prothero (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, $25)

One of the staples of American humor is the "three proofs that Jesus was..." joke, whose completion is always an ethnic identifier.

Thus, three proofs that Jesus was Jewish:

1. He went into his father's business.

2. He lived at home until the age of 33.

3. He was sure his mother was a virgin, and his mother was sure he was God.

Interestingly enough, this ongoing joke series includes no entry headed, "Three proofs that Jesus was American." Only in a country like Israel, where "American" names an ethnic group within the nation, could such a joke be told. If such has been told, I hope somebody will be kind enough to send me the three proofs.

Recipient email:
Your email:
Comments:	A friend has recommended you read the following from The Jewish Journal... Jesus: The "Jesus in America: Personal Savior, Cultural Hero, National Obsession" by Richard Wightman Fox (HarperSanFrancisco, $27.95). "American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon" by Stephen Prothero (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, $25) One of the staples of American humor is the "three proofs that Jesus was..." joke, whose completion is always an ethnic identifier. Thus, three proofs that Jesus was Jewish: 1. He went into his father's business. 2. He lived at home until the age of 33. 3. He was sure his mother was a virgin, and his mother was sure he was God. Interestingly enough, this ongoing joke series includes no entry headed, "Three proofs that Jesus was American." Only in a country like Israel, where "American" names an ethnic group within the nation, could such a joke be told. If such has been told, I hope somebody will be kind enough to send me the three proofs. http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/jesus_the_allamerican_jew_20040416/ Sign up for our free email news alerts at http://www.jewishjournal.com/email.

What's this word?

Featured Stories

Greenberg's View

Editorial Cartoon: The First Offering

REMOVE

Film

Filmmaker writes from experience for post-Holocaust drama ‘Mighty Fine’

Filmmaker Debbie Goodstein has taken to heart the adage, “Write what you know.” Her 1989 Holocaust documentary, “Voices From the Attic,” recounts her mother’s years of hiding in a garret where snow descended through slats in the roof, a baby died and food was scarce.

Calendar

May 26-June 1

Celebrating his 50th birthday and 30 years in comedy, the acclaimed actor-comedian (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) appears in person to perform an evening of stand-up. Tribe favorite Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt (“Ratatouille,” “King of Queens”), Bob Odenkirk (“Breaking

50 Plus

New Old Friends

Site Sections

Newspaper

Serving a community of 600,000, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles is the largest Jewish weekly outside New York City. Our award-winning paper reaches over 150,000 educated, involved and affluent readers each week. Subscribe here.

Not yet a member? Register now.
Username
Password