Centuries ago, the Pope decided that all the Jews had to leave Rome. Naturally there was a big uproar from the Jewish community. So the Pop made a deal. He would have a religios 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 realised that they had no choice. They looked aroung for a champion who could defend their faith, but n o one volunteered. It was too risk. So they picked Moshe, an old, poor man. Moshe had nothing to lose so he agreed, but on one condition. Not being a learned man he asked that neither side be allowed to speak. The Pope agreed.
The day of the great debate came. Moshe and the Pope sat opposite each other for a fulll minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. Moshe looked back at him and raised one finger. The Pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. Moshe pointed to the ground where he sat. The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine. Moshe 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 one God common to both our faiths. Then I waved my finger around me to show him that God was all around us. He resoponded by pointing to the ground, showing that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine and the wafer to emphasise the Eucharist. He pulled out an apple to remind me of original sin. He had an answer for everything."
Meanwhile, the Jewish community had crowded around Moshe, amazed that this old, poor man had done what all their scholars had insisted was impossible! What happened? they asked. "Well" said Moshe, "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 dont know", said Moshe. "He took out his lunch and I took out mine"
