The pope was having the chief rabbi of Israel over, and showed him around in the Vatican. The rabbi was impressed. At one point, they came to a small room with a golden phone. The pope explained that is where he talked to God. The phone itself was expensive but so was the call, € 10.000 per call! The rabbi left, still much impressed, but all the same he invited the pope to visit Jerusalem.

A year later, the pope came. The rabbi showed him around in Jerusalem, where things obviously were less expensive and impressive. But, at his office, he also had a little room with a phone. Rather plain one, nothing special. The rabbi explained that this was his line with the Holy One of Israel. The pope was curious and asked what the calls costed. 'Oh, said the rabbi, one shekel only. From Jerusalem, it's a local call'.