Question for RENTheads (and others) concerning Mark

[fabulousllc]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 1:42pm

Hello all!
I've been pondering this for some time now. Is Mark Jewish? My first inclination is yes, because of learning to tango with the Rabbi's daughter at the Scaresdale Jewish Community Center (and he refers to his Bah Mitzpah in the movie but that is beside the point in a Broadway discussion), but then why would he recieve a Christmas gift (the hot plate) and why would his family be celebrating Christmas (as implied in Voicemail #1)? I simply cannot make up my mind. Perhaps one of his parents was Jewish and the other was not?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 1:43pm

Yes.
("Scarsdale Jewish Community Center")

And it is Bar Mitzvah.

[Jon]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 1:59pm

Uh... yes... it ishighly doubtful that a non-Jew would have trouble maintaining an erection during the High Holy Days.

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 2:17pm

It could be that his father was Jewish and his mother wasn't, or he could be 100% Jewish but his family celebrates Christmas secularly.

[lovepuppy]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 2:23pm

I wondered about that too. Maybe 'Cindy'--Mark's sister?--'and the kids are here' mean they're just visiting on Winter holiday break. Or--heck, any Jew knows you have nothing to do on Christmas, when the world shuts down, other than go to movies, eat Chinese food, or hang out at someone's house anyway. :)

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 3:03pm

Also, if you remember correctly, Hanukkah and Christmas overlapped last year. So, it's many things. Maybe they gave it to him for Hanukkah and were making sure he got it.

Well, if one of his parents were Jewish and one wasn't, it would be his mother for him to consider himself Jewish. Because whatever religion the mother is, the child is. And if he considered himself Jewish, it would be his mother who was Jewish.

[lovepuppy]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 3:16pm

Well then he's "all" Jewish, because his name is Mark Cohen, and the last name presumably comes from his father. It isn't worth all that reading into, is it? I mean, mothers give their starving artist kids things no matter what time of year it is. It's not like she ever starts a voicemail with "Merry Christmas [bitches]" or whatever!

[hak]

Posted: 4/21/06 at 6:21pm

isn't Cohen a jewish last name?
i always took it as his dad is jewish, mom is not
so they celebrate both holidays
i know some jewish people who celebrate both... i get both christmas and hannaka [i'm sorry i know i spelled it wrong] cards from them