The Search for the Chief Samurai
Once upon a time, a mighty Emperor put out a call for a new Chief Samurai. After much waiting, only three candidates showed up: one Japanese, one Chinese, and one Jewish.
The Emperor called on the Japanese samurai first. He opened a tiny wooden box, and out flew a buzzing little fly. In a flash, he drew his sword—swish!—and that fly dropped cleanly in two. The Emperor clapped. “Very impressive!”
Next came the Chinese samurai. He, too, released a fly from a small box. Two quick swipes—swish! swish!—and the fly fell to the floor in four neat pieces. The Emperor nodded, clearly pleased.
Then came the Jewish samurai. He opened his box, the fly zipped out, and he raised his sword high. With a mighty swoooooosh! he whipped the blade through the air so forcefully it nearly blew out the palace lanterns.
But the fly was still buzzing around! Disappointed, the Emperor said, "What kind of skill is that? The fly isn't even dead."
"Dead," replied the Jewish Samurai. "Dead is easy. But, circumcision...?"
