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The parrot listened and commented.
They shared some walnuts. The parrot
told him of living in the pet store.
How he hared the weekends. They
both went to sleep.
Next morning, Meyer began to put
on his tefillin, all the while saying his
prayers. The parrot asked what he was
doing, and when Meyer explained, the
parrot insisted on doing the same
thing. Meyer hand-made a miniature
set of tefiliin for the parrot.
The parrot wanted to learn to
daven, and learned every prayer. He
wanted to learn to read Hebrew, so
Nzleyer spent weeks and months, sit-
ting and teaching the parrot, teaching
him the Torah. In time, Meyer came
to love, and count on the parrot, as a
friend and a Jew. He had been saved.
One morning, on Rosh Hashanah,
Meyer rose and got dressed and was
about to leave when the parrot asked to
go with him. Meyer explained that shul
was not a place for a bird, but the par-
rot made a terrific argument and was
carried to shul on Meyer's shoulder.
Needless to say, they made quite a
spectacle, and Meyer was questioned
by everyone, including the rabbi and
cantor. They refused to allow a bird
into the building on the High
Holidays, but Meyer convinced them
to let him in this one time, swearing
that this parrot could daven.
Wagers were made with Meyer.
Thousands of dollars were bet that the
parrot could NOT daven, could not
EVEN speak Yiddish or Hebrew. All
eyes were on the African Grey during
services. The parrot perched on
Mever's shoulder as one prayer and
song passed. Meyer heard not a peep
from the bird. He began to become
annoyed, slapping at his shoulder, and
mumbling under his breath, "Daven!
Daven, parrot, you can daven, so
daven. Come on, everybody's looking
at you!" Nothing.
After Rosh Hashanah services were
concluded, Meyer owed his shul bud-
dies over $4,000. He marched home,
upset and angry, saying nothing.
Finally; several blocks from the temple,
the bird began to sing an old Yiddish
song and was happy as a lark.
Meyer stopped and glared at him.
"You miserable bird, you cost me over
S4,000. Why? After I made you refill-
in and taught you the morning prayers
and taught you to read Hebrew and
the Torah. And after you begged me to
bring you to shul on Rosh Hashanah.
Why? How could you do this to me?"
"Don't be a dzirrdeop," the parrot
replied, "think of the odds we'll get on
Yom Kippur!"

Oreilard LaWe \tillage

4%89 Occnardl,Akke fkoad
,
onti ac Ira
at P
k2.413) 865-0000
t2.48) 965-0020

Enjoy our Middle Eastern catering for all your special occasions:

Customized catering menu created by you also available.
Ask'bout our on and off premises catering.

Complete dine-in
and carry-out

Consultation
and Supervision

Private room for
up to 100 people

'‘;

Our third location coming this year will be at Mid-Field Terminal of Metropolitan Airport

9/14
2001

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