In the spirit of the month of Elul, after much contemplation, I'm posting this one that my dad passed on to me recently. It's waaay better than the blond jokes he used to send.

Israeli leader Ehoud Olmert comes to Washington for meetings with George Bush and for a State Dinner. Laura Bush decides to bring in a special kosher chef and have a truly Jewish meal prepared in honor of their guest.

At the dinner that night, the first course is served and it is matzoh ball soup.

George W looks at this and, after learning what it is called, he tells an aide that he can't eat such a gross and strange-looking brew.

The aide says that Mr. Olmert will be insulted if he doesn't at least taste it.

Not wanting to cause any trouble (after all he ate a sheep's eye in honor of his arab guests), George W gingerly lowers his spoon into the bowl and retrieves a piece of matzoh ball and some broth.

He hesitates, swallows, and a grin appears on his face. He finds he really likes it, digs right in, and finishes the whole bowl.

"That was delicious," he says to Olmert. "Do the Jews eat any other part of the matzoh, or just the balls ?"

Shanah tovah u'metukah, everybody. A good, sweet new year 5768.