The Lake District has flooded and little Sam is walking home after shul one shabbes. As he gets to the crossroads, he meets a little girl.
“Hello,” says Sam, “what’s your name?”
“I’m Naomi,” replies the little girl.
“Where you going, Naomi?” asks Sam.
“I’ve just been to shul and I’m on my way home,” she replies.
“Me too,” says Sam. “What shul do you go to?”
“The Reform shul back down the road,” replies Naomi. “What about you?”
“Mine’s the Orthodox shul at the top of the hill,” replies Sam.
They soon discover that they both go home the same way so they decide to walk back together. But they come to a halt at a low point in the road where the rain has partially flooded the road and they can’t find a way to get across without getting wet.
“If I get my new shabbes dress wet, my mummy’s going to really tell me off,” says Naomi.
Sam says, “My mummy might even stop my pocket money if I get my new shabbes suit wet.”
“Tell you what I think I’ll do,” says Naomi, “I’m going to take off all my clothes, hold them over my head and walk across.”
“That’s a good idea,” says Sam. “I’ll do the same thing.”
So they both undress and wade across to the other side without getting their clothes wet. As they are waiting to dry before putting their clothes back on, Sam says to Naomi, “You know, I never knew how much difference there is between a Reform and Orthodox Jew.” Shul: synagogue
Credit: David Minkoff, A Word In Your Eye