Moishe and the Pope About a century or two 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. They looked around
for a champion who could defend their faith, but no one wanted to volunteer.
It was too risky. So they finally picked an old man named Moishe who spent
his life sweeping up after people to represent them. Being old and poor, he
had less to lose, so he agreed. He asked only for one addition to 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 ach 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
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 Jews. 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.'