The VIP Shul

[phkrause]

One New York synagogue was notorious for its exclusiveness. One day a homeless Jewish man entered the synagogue, wanting to pray. He approached the rabbi and told him that he wished to join the synagogue. Not knowing what to say, the rabbi suggested that the homeless man take the night to reflect on which house of worship would truly suit him best.

The following day the homeless man returned to the exclusive synagogue.

Frustrated, the rabbi asked the man if he had done any introspection as he had suggested.

“Oh yeah,” replied the homeless man. “In fact, God came to me in a dream last night to discuss it with me.”

“I see,” said the rabbi. “And what did he tell you?”

“God asked me what shul I wanted to daven in, and I said yours. And He said ‘Oh no, you won’t be able to get in there.’ And I said, ‘Why not?’ and He said, ‘Because I’ve been trying to get into that shul for years but I can’t get in.’”