When the Pope Gives You Advice...

[Carmen Elsa Irarragorri Wyland]

Two beggars were sitting side by side on a street in Rome, Italy.

 

One had a Cross in front of him; the other one was holding the Star of David. Many people went by, looked at both beggars, but only put money into the hat of the beggar sitting behind the Cross.

The Pope came by. He stopped to watch the throngs of people giving money to the beggar who held the Cross while none gave to the beggar holding the Star of David. He felt sorry for him.

 

Finally, the Pope approached the beggar with the Star of David and said: "My poor fellow, don't you understand? This is a Catholic country; this city is the seat of Catholicism. People aren't going to give you money if you sit there with a Star of David in front of you, especially when you're sitting beside a beggar who is holding a Cross.

 

In fact, they would probably give more money to him just out of spite!"

The beggar with the Star of David listened to the Pope, smiled, turned to the beggar with the Cross and said:

"Moishe, would you look who's trying to teach the Goldstein brothers about marketing?"