One day, the Pope declared that the Jews were to be expelled from the Holy City, but he made the provision that if the Jews won a debate against him then they could stay.
All of the rabbis in town
started packing up, wondering where they would go, but one Rabbi was calm,
telling them that he'd take care of it.
So the Rabbi headed off and had
an audience before the Pope, ready for the debate.
Pope: There is another condition
to this debate. We shall conduct it only
with gestures.
Rabbi: *Shrug*
Rabbi: *Holds up three fingers.*
Pope: *Draws a circle in the air
and points his finger to the sky.*
Rabbi: *Pokes his finger
repeatedly into the palm of his other hand.*
Pope: *Pulls out a goblet of
wine and a wafer.*
Rabbi: *Pulls out an apple and
takes a bite.*
Pope: All right! All of you can stay.
The Rabbi nodded and then left
to rejoin his people.
One of the Cardinals standing
nearby asked, "What did he say?"
The Pope responded, "First
I said, 'There is one God,' and he replied, 'You believe in three gods.' "
"Then I said, 'All are one
under Heaven," and he said, 'But it's based on our writings.' "
"Then I said, 'We are saved
by His sacrifice,' and he responded, 'we are all brothers in sin.' "
The rabbi returned to his people
with the news that they could stay, and one of the other rabbis asked him what
happened.
"Well, it was the most
bizarre thing. First he said, 'You've
got one day to get out,' and I said, 'We'll need three days.' "
"Then he said, 'Well, then
we'll round you up and kick you out.' and I said, 'Then we're staying
put.' "
"Then he pulled out his
lunch and I pulled out mine."
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