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The Jewish Chronicle

Philanthropy? It’s in our nature

April 17, 2008 23:00

ByStephen Pollard, Stephen Pollard

3 min read

Neuroscience suggests that we are hard-wired to make money — and give it away

Levy walks into a bank and asks for a £5,000 loan, with no penalties for early repayment. The manager says he’ll need some collateral. “How about my Rolls?” asks Levy. “It’s parked outside.” The manager takes the car and parks it in the car park. Two weeks later, Levy returns, pays off the loan and the £15 interest and takes back his car. “A pleasure doing business with you,” says the manager. “But I have a question. While you were away, we checked your account and saw you have millions in the bank. Why did you need a £5,000 loan?”

Levy replies: “Where else can I park for two weeks for £15?”

Funny as it is, that joke contains pretty much every Jewish caricature in the book. The rich Jew. The Jew who toys with and gets one over the gentile. The tight Jew.