28 October, 2012

The Great Debate

About a century or two ago, the Pope decided that all the Jews had to leave Rome. When there was the expected uproar from the Jewish community, the Pope made a deal. He would have a religious debate with one of them. If the Pope lost, the Jewish members could stay. If the Pope won, however, they would have to leave.

The Jewish community realized that they had no choice. They looked around for a champion who could defend their faith, but no one wanted to volunteer. It was too risky. So finally they picked an old man, Moishe, to represent them. Moishe spent his life sweeping up after people. Being old and poor, he had less to lose, so he agreed. He asked only for one addition condition for the debate. Not being used to saying very much as he cleaned up around the settlement, he asked that neither side 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 Jewish community can stay.”

An hour later, the cardinals were all around the Pope asking him what 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, showing that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine and the wafer to show that God absolves us from our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of original sin. He had an answer for everything. What could I do?”

Meanwhile, the Jewish community had crowded around Moishe, amazed that this old, almost feeble-minded man had done what all their scholars had insisted was impossible! “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 anyone Jewish. 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, and I took out mine.”
Author Unknown