The Minsk Cow

The townspeople did a little research and
discovered they could get a cow from Moscow
for 2000 rubles - or one from Minsk for
only 1000 rubles. So, naturally, they got
the cow from Minsk.
It was a great cow had a wonderful disposition,
and gave lots of milk and lots of cream.
Everybody loved it dearly. The people decided
they would mate the cow and get more cows like
it, and then they would never have to worry
about their milk supply again.
So they got a bull and led the cow and the
bull into the pasture. When the bull came in
from the right to mount the cow, the cow moved
to the left. When the bull moved in to mount
the cow from the left, the cow moved to the
right. This went on all day.

Finally, in desperation, the people decided
to go ask the rabbi what to do. After all he was very wise.

They told him the story. "Rabbi, we've tried
all day to mate our cow. When the bull moves
in from the right the cow moves left and when
the bull moves in from the left the cow moves
to the right. What do we do?"

The Rabbi thought a moment and asked, "Did
you buy this cow from Minsk?"

"Rabbi!" they replied as one, "You are so
wise! We never said we bought the cow from
Minsk. How did you know that?"

The Rabbi said, sadly, "My wife is from Minsk."