The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

JOKE

ONCE IN A LITTLE POLISH TOWN THERE WAS A RABBI WHO WAS
CONSIDERED VERY WISE. HE WAS SO WISE, IN FACT, THAT THE
TOWNSPEOPLE DECIDED TO SEND HIM TO ROME TO DEBATE WITH THE
POPE. WHEN THE RABBI GOT TO ROME, BY SOME STROKE OF LUCK
HE OBTAINED A PRIVATE AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE. WELL,
IT SEEMS THAT THE POPE COULDN'T SPEAK POLISH AND THE RABBI
COULDN'T SPEAK ITALIAN, SO THEY DEBATED WITH GESTURES AS
FOLLOWS:
THE POPE STUCK OUT ONE FINGER. THE RABBI STUCK OUT TWO.
THEN THE POPE TOOK OUT A PIECE OF CHEESE. THE RABBI
RESPONDED BY PRODUCING AN EGG. AT THIS, THE POPE EMBRACED
THE RABBI IN WONDER AND THEN LEFT. WHEN QUESTIONED BY A
CLERIC, THE POPE REMARKED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A
WISE MAN IN HIS LIFE. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN THE
ARGUMENT: I USED ONE FINGER TO INDICATE ONE GOD, BUT
HE COUNTERED WITH TWO FINGERS TO SHOW THAT THERE ARE TWO
KINGDOMS--THAT OF GOD AND THAT OF THE WORLD. I BROUGHT
OUT A CHEESE TO SHOW THAT THE EARTH IS FLAT, BUT HE
BROUGHT AN EGG TO SHOW THAT THE WORLD IS ROUND.
WHAT A GENIUS!"
WHEN THE RABBI GOT BACK TO HIS LITTLE POLISH TOWN, THE
PEOPLE ASKED HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. "IT WAS THE STRANGEST
THING," HE SAID, "FIRST HE STICKS OUT HIS FINGER
MEANING TO POKE ME IN THE EYE, SO I STUCK OUT TWO
MEANING I WAS GOING TO GET BOTH HIS EYES (FORGOTTEN PART).
THEN HE PULLS OUT A CHEESE SO, NATURALLY, I BROUGHT AN EGG.
ANYBODY KNOWS YOU CAN'T MAKE A CHEESE BLINTZ WITHOUT AN
EGG."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HIGHLAND PARK

Date learned: 10-00-1969