Author Rabbi Shmuley Boteach says Jewish people can “take a joke” as he defended Dave Chappelle after the comedian’s controversial opening monologue on Saturday Night Live.

Chappelle joked that early in his career he learned there are two words in the English language you should never put together – “the” and “Jews”.

“I’ve never heard anyone do good after they said that,” Chappelle said during Saturday Night Live.

Rabbi Shmuley said he thought Chappelle’s joke was “hilarious” and the comedian is not anti-Semitic.

“We have to always distinguish between true racism, bigotry and anti-Semitism and just humour,” he told Sky News host Rita Panahi.