How did it feel to portray a man who was a Hebrew?

I do not know how else to ask this question since it is of a personal nature and has to do with Judaism and Mormon.

The Jews believe in one God and do not believe that Jesus was the Mesisah.

Donny was in the Broadway Musical Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for six years.

So how in general way does Donny feel about the Judeo-Christian connection?

I am a Jewish Woman.

I was delighted to be able to play the part of Joseph in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat not only for the opportunity to participate in such a great musical, but also because of a belief concerning our relationship with the ancient Joseph. This connection with Joseph also gives me an affinity towards the Jewish people who descend from Judah, a brother of Joseph in the House of Jacob or Israel. Father Jacob came with his other eleven sons to Egypt where Joseph had become next to the Pharoah in control of the land including the storage of the sustaining grains. Here, before Jacob (Israel) died, he gave each of this twelve sons prophetic blessings concerning their future as the Twelve Tribes of Israel, or in other words, the House of Israel. To Joseph, he prophesied a branch of his descendants would: "...run over the wall [ocean]...unto the utmost bound [other side of the world] of the everlasting hills [the range of mountains that run from Alaska to the tip of South America]:" (Genesis 49:22 - 26) and that the promises given to Abraham would prevail with them.

The Book of Mormon is essentially a record of how a family who were descendants [a branch] of Joseph were led to Ancient America [land of everlasting hills]. We accept the Book of Mormon as divinely inspired and written by prophets just as we do the Bible which was written largely by Jewish prophets. We often refer to the following passage: 15 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick [scrolls - Bible] and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions [Jews]: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions [Book of Mormon]: 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. (Old Testament | Ezekiel 37:15 - 17)

There is a third connection, which is a little harder to explain. Suffice it to say that there is reason to believe that many of our faith are descended from Joseph and in that sense we are distant cousins.

Really, the difference between us is that we believe the Messiah has come and the Jewish belief, as I understand it, is that he is yet to come.

That second coming will result in the literal saving of the Jewish people and everyone else. He will be recognized by all as the true Messiah and all worthy individuals will be united with him. I personally look forward to that day.

I hope this explains why playing the part of Joseph was especially meaningful to me.

Sincerely,

Donny Osmond


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