In the middle ages, the Pope, using a tactic dating back to Talmudic times, challenged the Jews to a religious debate. If the Jew won they would be permitted to stay; if the Pope won, they would have to convert or leave Italy. The Jews were terrified and had great difficulty in persuading anyone to serve as their representative. Finally, Berel, the elderly שמש, said that if no one else is willing to do it, he will. However, since Berel did not speak Italian and the Pope did not speak Yiddish or Ladino, they agreed to a “silent” debate. The debate took place in a huge room packed with גויים on one side and Jews on the other. The Pope began by raising three fingers. Berel pointed one finger to the ground. The Pope then waved a finger around his head, to which Berel responded by again pointing his finger to the ground. Next, the Pope brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine. Berel pulled out an apple. With that, the Pope rose and conceded defeat, saying that the old Jew was just too clever for him and the Jews won. The Cardinals immediately approached him and asked what happened. The Pope explained: “First, I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded with one finger to remind me that there is but one G-d common to both of our beliefs. Then, I waved my finger around my head to show him that G-d is all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground to show that G-d is also right here with us. I then pulled out the wafer and wine to show that G-d absolves us of all our sins. He pulled out an apple to remind me of the original sin. He beat me at every move.” Meanwhile, the excited Jews gathered around Berel and asked him what happened. “I really have no idea,” he said. “First, he said to me that we have three days to get out of the country, so I pointed my finger to the ground to tell him we’re staying right here. Then, he told me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews. So I again pointed my finger to the ground to tell him that he’s going to גיהינום.” “And then what?” asked one of the Jews. “Who knows?” said Berel. “He took out his lunch, so I took out mine.”
06/10/2021