An old rabbi had a teenage son and he wanted to see what the boy would be like when he grew into a man. One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try to test him. He went into the boy’s room and placed on his study table four objects.
1. A Bible
2. A silver dollar
3. A bottle of whisky
4. And a Playboy magazine
‘I’ll just hide behind the door,’ the old rabbi said to himself. ‘When he comes home from school today, I’ll see which object he picks up.
If it’s the Bible, he’s going to be a preacher like me, and what a blessing that would be!
If he picks up the dollar, he’s going to be a business man, and that would be okay, too.
But if he picks up the bottle, he’s going to be a no-good drunken bum, and that would be terrible.
And worst of all if he picks up that terrible magazine he’s going to be interested in women, which is also terrible.
The old man waited anxiously, and when he heard his son return he hid behind the curtain.
The boy saw the objects on the table and walked over to see them. He picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink while he admired this month’s centerfold.
‘Oh G-d have mercy,’ the old rabbi cried, ‘He’s gonna run for Congress.’