The Pope and the Rabbi

From: Dan B.

Sent: April 22, 2012

To: undisclosed recipients

Subject: Fw: The Pope and the Rabbi

Just a joke people.

Dan

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Several centuries ago, 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,
 they could stay in Italy ; if the Pope won,
 they'd 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, they 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 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,
'First I held up three fingers to represent
the Trinity. He responded by holding up a
single finger to remind me there is still
only one God common to both our beliefs.

'Then, I waved my finger around my head 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 bested me at every move
and I could not continue.'


Meanwhile, the Jewish community gathered to
ask the rabbi how he'd won.

'I haven't a clue' the rabbi said. '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 and I told him 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.'