The Chief Rabbi and the Pope are in a

meeting in Rome. The Rabbi notices a fancy shmancy phone on a side table
in
the Pope’s private chambers. “What’s that phone for?” he asks.

“It’s my direct line to the Lord!” the Pope replies.

The
Rabbi is doubtful, but the Pope insists that he tries it out and,

indeed, he is connected to the Lord and chats away with Him for a while.

After he hangs up the Rabbi says. “Thank you very much. This is
great!
But listen, I want to pay for the charges I have used up.” The
Pope
doesn’t want to take the money, but finally gives in, checks
the counter
and says: Allright! The charge was 50,000 Lira.”, which
the Rabbi
gladly pays.

A couple of weeks later, the Pope is
in Jerusalem on an official visit.
In the Rabbi’s chambers he sees
the identical phone he has with a
direct line to the Lord. The Pope
asks if he could use it, because there
were some urgent matt
ers he needed to consult with Him. The Rabbi gladly
hands him the
phone and the Pope chats away. After he hangs up, he
says: “Now I
also want to pay for my charges on your phone.” The Rabbi
looks on
the counter and says: “1 Shekel 50!” The Pope looks surprised:
“Why
so cheap!” The Rabbi smiles: “Local call.”