The place: A small town in Poland.
The time: Around the 17th century.
Sorokin is one of the most feared Inquisitors of the church in his day and place, and he has arrived at this town to spear-head the forced removal of its small Jewish population, leaving the town properly in the hands of its Christian inhabitants.
Sorokin is a highly intelligent man with sharp wit. As he has done in other such towns, he offers the Jews a chance to stay. He proposes a theological debate to be conducted publicly the next day, in which he will argue against any one person the Jews decide to put forward. The catch is that the debate will be silent, and argued entirely with gestures and symbols. If the Jews are unable to win, they must comply with the move, but if the inquisitor concedes then the Jews may stay.
The Jews gather that night to discuss their predicament. All of them know the fierce prowess of this man - who will go against him? Most agree they are no match for Sorokin, and even the rabbi says, "Perhaps we should leave now and avoid the rush."
But from the corner steps Kovitz, the shamus. He says he will fight the debate. There is strong consternation here - the shamus? He barely can read Hebrew, and knows even less of theology! What could he possibly know that would defeat Sorokin? But as no one else steps forward, the group agrees that a slim chance is better than none at all.
So the entire town gathers the next day, and a large circle is drawn in the town center around which the crowds gather. Sorokin arrives early and prepared, and Kovitz barely shows up on time to begin.
With a smile, Sorokin steps forward and begins to inscribe a large circle in the air with his finger. Angrily, Kovitz stamps on the ground. Sorokin steps back, a shocked look on his face. Regaining his composure, he then holds forth three fingers high in the air. Kovitz shakes his head furiously, holding aloft one finger. Again, Sorokin reels, uncertain of what to do next. Finally, he steps back into the circle, holding out a loaf of bread and a small jug of wine. Kovitz smiles, and pulls an apple from his pocket. Sorokin drops the bread and jug, and throws his hands in the air. "I concede! The Jews may stay!"
Sorokin's group gathers around him and asks him the meaning of the debate. Sorokin says, "First I drew a circle in the air, stating that God is everywhere. But the Jew stamped on the ground, reminding me that God is not in Hell. I then held out the number three to symbolize the Holy Trinity. But the Jew angrily reminded me that God is one and indivisible. I then held out the sacraments of our Lord's Supper, and he responded by pulling out the fruit of Original Sin! I knew then I had been defeated by a master."
Of course, the Jews asked Kovitz the same question, and his reply was: "Well first he tried to show that we were moving very far away, and I stamped to say we were staying right here! He then tried to tell me we had three days to leave, and I said that not one of us would leave this town. Then I guess he gave up, because he pulled out his lunch, so I pulled out mine!"
The time: Around the 17th century.
Sorokin is one of the most feared Inquisitors of the church in his day and place, and he has arrived at this town to spear-head the forced removal of its small Jewish population, leaving the town properly in the hands of its Christian inhabitants.
Sorokin is a highly intelligent man with sharp wit. As he has done in other such towns, he offers the Jews a chance to stay. He proposes a theological debate to be conducted publicly the next day, in which he will argue against any one person the Jews decide to put forward. The catch is that the debate will be silent, and argued entirely with gestures and symbols. If the Jews are unable to win, they must comply with the move, but if the inquisitor concedes then the Jews may stay.
The Jews gather that night to discuss their predicament. All of them know the fierce prowess of this man - who will go against him? Most agree they are no match for Sorokin, and even the rabbi says, "Perhaps we should leave now and avoid the rush."
But from the corner steps Kovitz, the shamus. He says he will fight the debate. There is strong consternation here - the shamus? He barely can read Hebrew, and knows even less of theology! What could he possibly know that would defeat Sorokin? But as no one else steps forward, the group agrees that a slim chance is better than none at all.
So the entire town gathers the next day, and a large circle is drawn in the town center around which the crowds gather. Sorokin arrives early and prepared, and Kovitz barely shows up on time to begin.
With a smile, Sorokin steps forward and begins to inscribe a large circle in the air with his finger. Angrily, Kovitz stamps on the ground. Sorokin steps back, a shocked look on his face. Regaining his composure, he then holds forth three fingers high in the air. Kovitz shakes his head furiously, holding aloft one finger. Again, Sorokin reels, uncertain of what to do next. Finally, he steps back into the circle, holding out a loaf of bread and a small jug of wine. Kovitz smiles, and pulls an apple from his pocket. Sorokin drops the bread and jug, and throws his hands in the air. "I concede! The Jews may stay!"
Sorokin's group gathers around him and asks him the meaning of the debate. Sorokin says, "First I drew a circle in the air, stating that God is everywhere. But the Jew stamped on the ground, reminding me that God is not in Hell. I then held out the number three to symbolize the Holy Trinity. But the Jew angrily reminded me that God is one and indivisible. I then held out the sacraments of our Lord's Supper, and he responded by pulling out the fruit of Original Sin! I knew then I had been defeated by a master."
Of course, the Jews asked Kovitz the same question, and his reply was: "Well first he tried to show that we were moving very far away, and I stamped to say we were staying right here! He then tried to tell me we had three days to leave, and I said that not one of us would leave this town. Then I guess he gave up, because he pulled out his lunch, so I pulled out mine!"
