Moskowitz had bought a parrot and one morning found the bird at the eastern side of the cage, with a small prayer shawl over its head, rocking to and fro, and mumbling. Bending low to listen, Moskowitz was thunderstruck to discover the parrot was intoning prayers in the finest Hebrew.

Youre Jewish? asked Moskowitz.

Not only Jewish, said the parrot, but Orthodox. So will you take me to the synagog on Rosh Hashonah?

Rosh Hashonah, the Jewish New Year, was indeed only 2 days away, and it would as always usher in the high-holiday season which would end with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, ten days later. Moskowitz said Of course Ill take you, but can I tell my friends about you? This isnt a secret is it?

No secret at all. Tell anyone you want to. And the parrot returned to his praying.

Moskowitz went to all his friends to tell them about his Jewish parrot. Of course no one believed him, and in no time at all Moskowitz was taking bets. By Rosh Hashonah he had $1,000 in bets riding on the parrot.

Grinning, Moskowitz brought the parrot to the synagog in its cage. He put him in a prominent place and everyone turned to watch the parrot do his prayers. Even the rabbi watched, as he had $7 that said the parrot would not pray.

Moskowitz waited. Everyone waited. The parrot did not pray. Moskowitz put the prayer shawl over the parrots head, but the bird ducked and shawl fell off. After the services all of Moskowitzs friends laughed, and collected their money.

Utterly humiliated, Moskowitz returned home, turned viciously on the bird, screaming, Prepare to die you little monster, for Im going to wring your neck! If you can pray, nows the time!

The parrots voice rang out clear, Hold it, you idiot. In 10 days its Yom Kippur, when all the Jews will sing the tragic, haunting Kol nidre. Why dont you bet everyone that I can sing Kol Nidre.

Why? You didnt do anything today!

Exactly, replied the bird. So for Yom Kippur, just think of the odds youll get!