Subject: Fw: The Rabbi and the Pope
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The Rabbi and the Pope
Around the year 900, the Pope decreed that all the Jews had to convert to
Catholicism or leave Italy. There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community,
so the Pope offered a deal: he'd have a religious debate with the leader of the
Jewish community. If the Jews won the debate, they could stay in Italy; if the
Pope won, all the Jewish people would have to convert or leave.
The Jewish people met and picked an aged and wise Rabbi to represent them
in the debate. However, as the Rabbi spoke no Italian, and the Pope spoke no
Yiddish, all agreed that it would be a silent debate.
On the chosen day, the Pope and Rabbi sat opposite each other.
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 brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine.
The Rabbi pulled out an apple.
With that, the Pope stood up and declared himself clearly beaten, and said
that the Rabbi was too clever. The Jews could stay in Italy.
Later the Cardinals met with the Pope and asked him what had happened.
The Pope said, "Firstly, I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity.
The Rabbi responded by holding up a single finger to remind me there is still
only ONE God who is common to both our faiths.
Then, I waved my finger around my head to show him that God was all around
us.
The Rabbi responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also
RIGHT HERE with us.
I pulled out the wine and host to show that through the perfect sacrifice,
Jesus has atoned for our sins, but the Rabbi pulled out an apple to remind me
of the ORIGINAL SIN. He beat me at every move, and I could not continue."
Meanwhile, the Jewish community gathered to ask the Rabbi how he'd managed
to win.
"I haven't a clue," said the Rabbi. "First, he told me that we had three
days to get out of Italy, so I gave him the finger.
Then he tells me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews, but I
told him emphatically that we were staying right here."
"And then what?" asked a woman.
"Who knows?" said the Rabbi. "He took out his lunch, so I took out mine. I
still have no idea what happened after that."
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