A fleeing Taliban, desperate for water, was plodding
through the Afghanistan desert when he saw something
far off in the distance.
Hoping to find water, he walked toward the object,
only to find a little old Jewish man sitting at a
card-table with neckties laid out on it.
The Arab asked, "My thirst is killing me. Do you have
water?"
The Jewish man replied, "I have no water. Would you
like to buy a tie? ... They are only $150. This one
goes very nicely with your robes."
The Arab shouted, "Idiot! I do not need an overpriced
tie. I need water!"
"OK," said the old Jew, "it does not matter that you
do not want to buy a tie, and that you insult me. I
will show you that you have not offended me. If you
walk over that hill to the east for about two miles,
you will find a lovely restaurant. Go! Walk that way!
The restaurant has all the water you need!"
The Arab staggered away toward the hill and eventually
disappeared.
Four hours later the Arab came crawling back to where
the Jewish man was sitting at his table. The Jew said,
"I told you, about two miles over that hill. Could you
not find it?
"I found it all right," rasped the Arab. "Your brother won't let me in without a tie"