Around the year 900, about 1,113 years 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 the debate ,
they could stay in Italy ; if the Pope won, all the Jewish people would 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, all 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 clearly 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, "Firstly, I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity.
The Rabbi responded by holding up a single finger to remind me there is
still only ONE God who is common to both our faiths.
Then, I waved my finger around my head to show him that God was all around
us.
The Rabbi responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also
RIGHT HERE with us.
I pulled out the wine and host to show that through the perfect sacrifice,
Jesus has atoned for our sins, but the Rabbi pulled out an apple to remind
me of the ORIGINAL SIN. He beat me at every move, and I could not continue."
Meanwhile, the Jewish community gathered to ask the Rabbi how he'd managed
to win.
"I haven't a clue," said the Rabbi. "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, but I told
him emphatically 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."
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 the debate ,
they could stay in Italy ; if the Pope won, all the Jewish people would 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, all 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 clearly 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, "Firstly, I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity.
The Rabbi responded by holding up a single finger to remind me there is
still only ONE God who is common to both our faiths.
Then, I waved my finger around my head to show him that God was all around
us.
The Rabbi responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also
RIGHT HERE with us.
I pulled out the wine and host to show that through the perfect sacrifice,
Jesus has atoned for our sins, but the Rabbi pulled out an apple to remind
me of the ORIGINAL SIN. He beat me at every move, and I could not continue."
Meanwhile, the Jewish community gathered to ask the Rabbi how he'd managed
to win.
"I haven't a clue," said the Rabbi. "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, but I told
him emphatically 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."
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