Jerusalem

Dedicated to my friend Harry, a great soul. To dedicate a future Table Talk, send an email.


My friend Harry, a “Persian” Jew from California (i.e., he was born in Iran), was in Jerusalem recently with his family and taking a cab with two of his sons to the Western Wall. They settled on a fare of twenty shekels.

The driver heard his accent and asked him, “Are you Iranian?”

“Yeah, sure,” Harry said. “Are you?”

“No, but I love Iran! I love Ahamdinejad!”

Harry couldn’t believe his ears. “You love Ahamdinejad? How could you? He wants to start a war to destroy Israel!”

“Yes, destroy! Jihad, jihad, jihad!”

By now Harry’s sons were really nervous. They were hoping to make it home in one piece.

But Harry could not contain himself. He was incredulous. “How can you say that! Here you are, driving us in a cab in Yerushalayim! We are Jews! You are driving us to the Wall! How can you talk like that?

“Yes,” said the driver, “jihad, kill the Americans and Israelis to avenge my brothers in Iraq.”

For Harry, the most incredible had become even more incredible: “You are so bothered by your brothers in Iraq? It’s not Americans killing them, they’re killing each other!”

He had pushed too far: “Get out here,” the driver demanded.

“But we’re not at the Wall yet?”

Taxicabs are not allowed to the Wall anymore, security restrictions.

But Harry was not finished. “Are you Sunni or Shia?”

“I am Sunni!”

“Then you’re a fool. Don’t you know that Ahmnadijab is a Shia. That means that he’s coming to kill YOU too!”

The driver fell silent and waited for his passengers to exit the cab.

Outside, Harry told his visibly relieved sons, “You see boys, for only a few dollars we got a valuable lesson....”

Question for your table>: What was the lesson?

A related disturbing video:



Shabbat Shalom.

Speaking schedule – save the dates:
December 5 – Beverly Hills - Hannuka party for singles - with all-you-can-eat sushi, open bar, casino, music and “Persian” auction. Super prizes, including an iPhone. For tickets for yourself or to give a friend as a meaningful Hannuka present, phone 310-785-0440