About a century or two ago, the Pope decided that all the Jews had
 to leave the Vatican.  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 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 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.  "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."
 
 
 From: Michelle

Wil Stark, wstark04 (at) pobox _dot_com

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