Several centuries ago, the Pope decreed that all the Jews had to
convert or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish
community, so the Pope offered a deal. He would have a religious
debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in Italy; if the Pope won, they would have to leave.
The Jewish people met and picked an aged but wise Rabbi to represent them in the debate. However, as the Rabbi spoke no Italian and the Pope spoke no Yiddish, they all agreed that it would be a "silent" debate.
On the chosen day, the Pope and the Rabbi sat opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. The Rabbi looked back and raised one finger.
Next the Pope waved his finger around his head. The Rabbi pointed to the ground where he sat.
The Pope then brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine. The Rabbi pulled out an apple.
With that, the Pope stood up and declared that he was beaten, that
the Rabbi was too clever and that the Jews could stay.
Later, the Cardinals met with the Pope, asking 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 is still only one God common to both our beliefs.
Then, I waved my finger to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also right here with us.
I pulled out the wine and wafer to show that God absolves us of all
our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin.
He had me beaten and I could not continue."
Meanwhile the Jewish community gathered around the Rabbi.
"How did you win the debate?" they asked.
"I haven't a clue," said the Rabbi. "First he said to me that we had
three days to get out of Italy, so I said to him, 'Up yours!' Then he
tells me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews and I said
to him, 'we're staying right here.'"
"And then what," asked a woman.
"Who knows?" said the Rabbi, "He took out his lunch, so I took out mine."
Several centuries ago, the Pope decreed that all the Jews had to
convert or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish
community, so the Pope offered a deal. He would have a religious
debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in Italy; if the Pope won, they would have to leave.
The Jewish people met and picked an aged but wise Rabbi to represent them in the debate. However, as the Rabbi spoke no Italian and the Pope spoke no Yiddish, they all agreed that it would be a "silent" debate.
On the chosen day, the Pope and the Rabbi sat opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. The Rabbi looked back and raised one finger.
Next the Pope waved his finger around his head. The Rabbi pointed to the ground where he sat.
The Pope then brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine. The Rabbi pulled out an apple.
With that, the Pope stood up and declared that he was beaten, that
the Rabbi was too clever and that the Jews could stay.
Later, the Cardinals met with the Pope, asking 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 is still only one God common to both our beliefs.
Then, I waved my finger to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also right here with us.
I pulled out the wine and wafer to show that God absolves us of all
our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin.
He had me beaten and I could not continue."
Meanwhile the Jewish community gathered around the Rabbi.
"How did you win the debate?" they asked.
"I haven't a clue," said the Rabbi. "First he said to me that we had
three days to get out of Italy, so I said to him, 'Up yours!' Then he
tells me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews and I said
to him, 'we're staying right here.'"
"And then what," asked a woman.
"Who knows?" said the Rabbi, "He took out his lunch, so I took out mine."
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