An example of how humans interpret the same thing very differently.
Paul Sutton
"Success is a journey, not a destination."
The Pope and the Rabbi.
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 Yiddish, they all agreed that it would be "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 Moishe 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 herewith 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. "What
happened?" they asked.
"Well," 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, Mr Pope, 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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