Talmudic Reasoning
A man once asked his Rabbi to Explain the meaning of "Talmudic
Reasoning."
The Rabbi replied: "Well, it's not too easy to explain, but I
think I can demonstrate it to you and you will get the point.
I will ask you a simple question and you give the answer.
Are you ready?"
The man was ready, so the Rabbi continued: "Imagine that two
men come out of a chimney, one is dirty, the other clean.
Which one takes a bath?" The intrigued listener immediately
replied: "That's easy, Rabbi. The dirty one takes the bath."
"Not so," said the Rabbi. "The Talmud would explain that when
the men came out, the dirty one looked at the clean one and saw
a clean face. Meanwhile the clean one looked at the dirty one
and saw a dirty face."
A knowing look, complete with broad smile, flashed onto the
man's face. The Rabbi continued, "Now tell me which one takes
the bath?" The answer was quick and sure. "Now I get it Rabbi,
the clean one takes the bath!"
The Rabbi looked just a bit unhappy, but he answered patiently,
"No. You see, the Talmud would go on to ask: 'How could two men
come out of a chimney and one be clean and the other dirty?"