OT: The Pope and the Rabbi

[Guest guest]

About two centuries ago, the Pope decided that all the Jews had to leave

the Papal States. Naturally there was a big uproar from the Jewish

community. So the Pope made a deal. He would have a religious debate

with a member of the Jewish community; if the Jew won, the Jews could

stay; if the Pope won, the Jews would leave.

 

The Jews realized that they had no choice. So they picked a middle-aged

man named Moishe to represent them. Moishe asked for one addition to

the debate. To make it more interesting, neither side would be allowed

to talk.

 

The pope agreed.

 

The day of the great debate came. Moishe and the Pope sat opposite each

other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three

fingers. Moishe looked back at him and raised one finger.

 

The Pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. Moishe pointed

to the ground where he sat. The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of

wine. Moishe pulled out an apple. The Pope stood up and said, " I give

up. This man is too good. The Jews can stay.

 

An hour later, the cardinals were all around the Pope asking him what

happened. The Pope said: " First I held up three fingers to represent the

Trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there

was still one God common to both our religions.

 

Then I waved my finger around me to show him that God was all around us.

He responded by pointing to the ground and showing that god was also

right here with us.

 

I pulled out the wine and the wafer to show that god absolves us from

our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of original sin. He had an

answer for everything! What could I do? "

 

Meanwhile, the Jewish community had crowded around Moishe. " What

happened? " they asked.

 

" Well, " said Moishe, " First he said to me that the Jews had three days

to get out of here. I told him that not one of us was leaving.

 

Then he told me that this whole city would be cleared of Jews. I let him

know that we were staying right here. " " And then? " asked a woman.

 

" I don't know, " said Moishe. " He took out his lunch and I took out

mine. "