THESTORYTELLINGMONK
A Debate in Sign Language
Setup
Fifteenth century, Italy. These were terrible times for the Jews. A day did not go by without adding another humiliation or hardship to their miserable existence. But this last blow was the worst.
That morning, the Pope had summoned the Chief Rabbi to inform him of his latest decree: all Jews had three days to leave Rome! Faced with a huge outcry from the Jewish community, the Pope later modified his stance and challenged them to a disputation to prove their worth and earn the right to stay. As the Pope spoke no Yiddish and most Jews did not understand Latin, it was agreed to hold the theological debate through sign language.
His heart sinking, the rabbi gathered the congregation in the great synagogue and broke the terrible news. They had thirty days to select a champion. If none appeared at the debate, they would lose by default.
Frantic questions raced through the air.
“Who will represent us?”
“Who has mastered Christian theology?”
“Who knows sign language?”
No candidate could be found. The rabbi declared a period of mourning and instructed the community to spend the month in fasting and prayers. Maybe the Almighty would inspire someone to take up the challenge…
Days turned into weeks, and still no one came forward. On the eve of the appointed day, a poultry trader returned from his business travels. Finding his home empty, he went to the usually bustling market, which was closed. “What happened?” he wondered “Did the plague strike here?”
Roaming throughout the town, he eventually found the entire community huddled inside the great synagogue. There were his neighbors, his friends, and, at last, there was his family.
“Hello there, what is going on? Why the pale faces, and the tears? Someone pretty important must have died…”
“Oh Daniel, you do not know the calamity that has befallen us while you were away. By tomorrow, we will all be exiled.” They explained the situation.
“Where is the problem? I shall be your man.” Daniel walked over to the chief rabbi and sought his blessing.
“Lord, is this truly our savior,” wondered the rabbi, “an uncouth, illiterate poultry-trader?” He reflected for a moment on God’s mysterious ways. “Thy will be done,” he said to himself, and blessed Daniel. “May the Lord Almighty inspire you and deliver us from evil.”
The next morning, Daniel stood calmly in front of the Pope in St. Peter's Square, his favorite hen tucked under his arm.
“The cream of the Jewish scholars, no doubt” thought the Pope, sneering at this pitiful contender.
Riddle
Launching the attack, the Pope stuck out three fingers high in the air. Daniel immediately raised his palm.
The Pope lifted the chalice of consecrated wine and the holy wafer above his head, to which the poultry trader responded by taking an apple from his pocket.
Finally, the Pope took a handful of grains and scattered them with a flourish on the ground. Daniel set his pet chicken down where she quickly gobbled up all the seeds.
The Pope remained silent for a long time. He finally rose and went to embrace the merchant. “I concede you the debate. If all Jews share only a fraction of your profound wisdom, you are indeed a noble people who deserve our respect and friendship.”
What was the meaning of this silent exchange?
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