About a century or two ago, the Pope decided that all the Jews had to leave
Rome.
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 had
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 wafer to show that God
absolves
us from our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the 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.”
“Yes, yes,.. and then???” asked the crowd.
“I don’t know,” said Moishe, “He took out his lunch, and I took out mine.”
^-Of course I’m arrogant. The best usually are.-^