An Italian man walks into a consulting firm wearing a yarmulke . . .
Ciro Rosselli, 29, of Queens, claims in papers filed in Manhattan federal court yesterday that he donned the religious head cover in the office while practicing “theosophy,” an obscure spiritual philosophy that holds “there is no higher religion than truth.”
But the non-Jewish man’s colleagues at McKinsey & Co. apparently thought wearing the Jewish skullcap wasn’t kosher — and allegedly unleashed a torrent of taunts at the Astoria, Queens, resident.
Rosselli claims that his boss sent him an e-mail likening him to Kabbala fan Madonna for his sudden embrace of Judaism, while another co-worker suggested he was just trying “to hide his bald spot.”
The alleged abuse also included accusations that Rosselli wasn’t a “real Jew,” with one supervisor demanding: “Take that [yarmulke] off! You’re creeping me out!” according to his lawsuit.
Rosselli’s suit seeks unspecified money damages from the consulting giant for discrimination and retaliation, because it allegedly fired him over his complaints to the Human Resources Department.
Rosselli told The Post that he began exploring theosophy in 2007, shortly before he was hired by McKinsey as an executive assistant.
“It is about finding truth in all religions,” he said. “I’m still learning all of the different facets.”
But when Rosselli appeared in the office sporting a yarmulke, one disbelieving colleague allegedly told him, “You can’t be Jewish if you’re Italian.”
Another reportedly said, “I guess I won’t be asking you for a loan” — which his suit calls “a reference to the stereotype that Jewish people are ‘cheap.’ ”
Rosselli also says his boss, Gina Denardo, sent him an e-mail with the subject line “Madge Rosselli.” Madonna’s nickname is Madge.
Rosselli says he complained about the “religious discrimination and harassment” the next day but was told by an HR worker to “wait it out.”
His suit says he was fired in April, two days after going to the cops with allegations that Denardo had an ex-boyfriend threaten him for complaining about the treatment he was receiving.
A McKinsey spokeswoman declined to comment.