nilesfunnies

Monday, January 24, 2005

[nilesfunnies] Fw: The Pope and the Jew


The Pope and the Jew
Since I've just been in Rome I'll post (re-post possibly) one of my
favourite jokes...


Some centuries ago, the Pope decided that all the Jews were to be expelled
from 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 Jewish
leader, and if the Jew won, the Jews could stay. If the Pope won, the Jews
would leave.

The Jews picked an elderly rabbi named Moishe to represent them. Rabbi
Moishe's Latin wasn't very good - in fact, he knew none. Eventually, after
negotiations, the pope agreed to a silent debate.

Moishe and the Pope sat in chairs opposite each other in the Sistine
Chapel for a full 5 minutes before the Pope raised his hand and showed
three fingers. Moishe looked back at him and raised one finger.

The Pope looked thoughtful, and after a few minutes waved his hand in a
circle around his head. Moishe promptly pointed to the ground where he
sat.

The Pope looked troubled. Then he smiled turned to the table next to
him and picked up a communion wafer and chalice of wine, which he raised
in Moishe's direction. Moishe shrugged and pulled an apple from his
sleeve.

The Pope immediately stood up and said, "I give up. This man is too good.
The Jews can stay."

Later, the cardinals gathered round 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 we still share the
same God. Then I waved my hand about to show him that our God was all
around us. He responded by pointing to the ground and showing that his God
was also right here with us. Finally I pulled out the components of the
Mass to show that Jesus absolves us from our sins. He pulled out an apple
to remindind me that we all carry 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 Rome so I told him that not one of us
was leaving. Then he told me that the whole city would be cleared of
Jews. so 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 so I took out mine."


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