About a century or so 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 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."
