Totally Jewish has an illuminating article regarding a possible connection between the first Samurais and the Lost Tribes of Israel.
Besides pointing out interesting similarities between the Japanese and Hebrew cultures, the article contains the following classic Jewish joke that bears repeating.
The story goes that a powerful Japanese emperor was once looking for a new chief Samurai to head up his imperial bodyguard. After a year-long search only three contenders had come forward who felt they could meet the challenge – a Japanese samurai, a Chinese samurai and a Jewish samurai.
The emperor called on each to demonstrate their skills. First up was the Japanese samurai who opened a little box and released a fly. Drawing his sword he swished it through the air and the insect fell to the floor, sliced in two.
Needless to say the emperor was impressed. But before he could offer the Japanese samurai the job, the Chinese samurai stepped forward. He too opened a box and released a fly. Then, drawing his sword, swish, swish, the fly fell to the floor in quarters. The emperor was astounded. He turned to the Jewish samurai and smirked “How on earth are you going to top that?”
Undaunted, the Jewish samurai stepped forward and also opened a box, releasing a fly. Then drawing his sword, he swiped it through the air… but the fly continued to buzz around the room. Looking at the Jew disappointed, the emperor exclaimed: “What kind of samurai are you? The fly isnít even dead.”
“Dead,” replied the Jew, “thatís nothing. But circumcised, now that takes skill.”
