Acorn

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Arts and Leisure

Media Credit: Christa Van Eerde Jewish comedian Rabbi Bob Alper, Muslim-American comedian Ahzar Usman and Palestinian-Christian comedian Nazareth exchange punchlines about those who wage faith-based conflicts.

A rabbi, a Muslim-American and a Palestinian-Christian walked into the Dorothy Young Center for the Arts last night as part of the Drew University Center on Religion, Culture and Conflict presentation. With approximately 175 audience members of diverse ethnic and religious groups, the event began with Professor of Religion Chris Taylor welcoming the audience, which included President Bob Weisbuch.

Comedians Rabbi Bob Alpert, Azhar Usman of the comedy tour "Allah Made Me Funny," and Nazareth, a Palestinian-born Christian, took the stage to share their styles of self-deprecating humor. Nazareth began the night by taking on a wide array of topics as diverse as shopping at Costco to evolution in the public education system. Having grown up in Kuwait and moved to Ohio in 1984, the transition of living in a third-world country to living in the United States was a central aspect of Nazareth's performance. One of the highlights of his set included a solution to fighting in the Middle East through Burger King.

"Wherever there's a Burger King, there's peace," he said. "Sunni, Shiite-have it your way."

Nazareth's immigrant perspective on America provided a large source of his material and references to prejudices toward Middle Easterners were sprinkled throughout his routine.

"You check the weather when you go to the airport," Nazareth said. "We [Middle Easterners] check the homeland security color when we travel. 'Honey, it's orange today. Looks like we're staying home.'"

Alper, who founded the tour, followed, beginning his set with tales from the road. As the only practicing clergyman doing stand-up comedy, Alper's set was heavily influenced by his Jewish background. Applause and laughter followed his description of his approach to Yom Kippur.

"If I've done anything in the past year that has hurt you, I want you to know that you're too sensitive," he said of the holiday of atonement. His children and family, including the family pets, were a popular topic for him, as well as his childhood experiences in Providence, R.I., his hometown. Regarding his children's adolescent phase, he said, "There's a reason Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac at 12 and not 13. At 13, it wouldn't have been a sacrifice."

Continued...

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