שבת-עה

Slightly more than a century ago, a collector for a Jewish institution in Russia while passing through a forest was held up by an armed Cossack who robbed him of all his money.  “I’d like to ask a small favor of you,” the Jew said.  “The money which you have taken belongs to an institution that I was collecting for.  When I tell them that I have been robbed, they will refuse to believe me.”  “There is nothing I can do about that,“ growled the Cossack.  “But there is,” replied the Jew. “I will hang my hat on a branch of this tree and you will kindly shoot a hole through it so that they may believe I was actually held up.”  The Cossack agreed and shot two holes through the hat.  The collector took off his coat and begged the Cossack to shoot two holes through each of his sleeves.   Again, the robber did as he was requested.  Finally, the Jew took off his vest and asked that the robber make another hole, but the robber said “No more holes for you Zhid.   All my bullets are gone.”   “That’s what I’ve been waiting to hear!” said the Jew as he leapt upon the Cossack, knocked him down, beat him up, and retrieved his money.   As the Jew went on his way, the Cossack snarled “Well, this proves it: You simply can’t trust a Jew.”

18/05/2020