Theos-Talk Archives (December 2004 Message tt00276)

What a hoot. Pity there aren't more silent debates between religious and political leaders in the real world.

Eldon B Tucker <eldon@theosophy.com> wrote:
Something funny I saw at work:



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, Moishe, to 
represent them in the debate. However, as Moishe spoke no Italian and 
the Pope spoke no Hebrew, they all agreed that it would be a "silent" 
debate.

On the chosen day, the Pope and Rabbi Moishe sat opposite each other 
for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three 
fingers. Rabbi Moishe looked back and raised one finger. Next the 
Pope waved his finger around his head. Rabbi Moshe pointed to the 
ground where he sat. The Pope then brought out a communion wafer and 
a chalice of wine. Rabbi Moishe pulled out an apple. With that, the 
Pope stood up and declared that he was beaten, that Rabbi Moishe 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 were gathered around Rabbi Moishe. 
"How did you win the debate?" they asked. "I haven't a clue," said 
Moishe, "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 Moishe, "He took out his lunch so I took out mine."





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