Throughout the two decades I have spent in the rabbinate, I have never met a Mormon at an interfaith event. I do not recall a Mormon ever speaking at a synagogue. Recently I decided that doesn't make sense and that the burden is on me to do some outreach to rectify the situation.

I realized this when I was watching the televised Tony Awards that featured songs from "The Book of Mormon." One of the songs made jokes about the beliefs of Mormons. It bothered me and made me wonder how I would feel about a show that ridiculed Jewish theology. But I was also impressed by how the Mormons responded wisely with this statement: "The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people's lives forever by bringing them closer to Christ." The Mormon church also has taken out advertisements in communities where the road company performed the hit Broadway musical, saying, "You've seen the show; now read the Book." It made me smile.

The ability of the Mormons to go with the humor of the "Book of Mormon" resonates with my Jewish soul. Jews take pride in laughing at ourselves. Father of psychology Sigmund Freud writes in "Wit and the Unconscious" that Jewish jokes about Jews are "stories invented by Jews and aimed at Jewish characteristics. which show an awareness of (Jews') real faults. They know how these are related to their good points." When the going gets tough, Jews tell jokes. Nobody knows better how funny Judaism is than Jews. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints seems to be my kind of folks. "... Now read the Book" Ha! I get it.

Jews hold a special place for the people who call themselves the new Israel. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has a complex relationship with Hebrew vocabulary and history of the Israelites. Declaring that the United States was "Zion" and that their leadership has a mission related to the biblical prophets, Mormons identify themselves with Israelite ancestors as do Jews. Rodney Standage is the leader of the Mormons in and around the Capital Region as president of the Albany Stake. That term comes from an allegorical interpretation of a verse in Isaiah, "Zion shall enlarger her stakes."

Mormons have faced oppression in the United States since their beginning in upstate New York, moving West when religious groups and others attacked them. Most recently, Mitt Romney's religion stirred up anti-Mormon bigotry in the presidential campaign. The Republican candidate's innocent comment about "binders full of women" inspired ridiculous allegations about Mormon plural marriages. In Ohio, American atheists sponsored billboards said not to vote for Romney since he was Mormon and Mormons are bigots. Surely, when any religion is used as a reason to vote against a candidate, all of us should judge the individual and do not let hate speech enter the political arena.

The Mormon church today continues its mission to spread the faith, seeking converts all over the world, including within the Jewish community. While this has made Jews uncomfortable, I believe it is also one the reasons why we should talk to each other in an interfaith dialogue. Toward that end, Standage will speak at Temple Beth El in Troy on Saturday after services around noon, and the public is invited to attend.

His talk is part of our congregation's series called "Peace — How can people of different religious viewpoints contribute to getting along?" So far, we've featured evangelical Christian, Muslim, humanist and Franciscan faith community leaders. These programs are scheduled for the first Saturday of each month immediately after services. Standage will be speaking at a light bagel and spreads lunch. Donations are not accepted on the Sabbath, and, like all kiddush meals, there is no charge for the event.

The good-natured response of the Mormon Church to parody is all the more reason for bringing them into the ongoing interfaith discussion, respecting their beliefs and understanding what motivates them. Prejudices against Mormons should have no place in our political system. I encourage all my fellow clergy to bring better appreciation and understanding of this American church.

Rabbi Kasman, who lives in Niskayuna, is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth El in Troy. He teaches at Siena College and is a chaplain at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital in Schenectady and Albany Medical Center.