A hidden blessing
Bill Gates decides to organize an enormous session of recruitment for a chairman for Microsoft Europe. The 5,000 candidates are all assembled in a large room. One of the candidates is Maurice Cohen.
Gates thanks all the candidates for coming and asks that all those who do not know the Java programming language rise and leave. So 2,000 people rise and leave the room.
Cohen says to himself, “I do not know this language, but what have I got to lose if I stay? I’ll give it a try.”
Gates then asks that all candidates who have never had experience of team management of more than 100 people rise and leave. So 2,000 people rise and leave the room.
Cohen says to himself, “I have never managed anybody but myself, but what have I got to lose if I stay? What can happen to me?” He stays.
Then Gates asks all candidates who do not have excellent college diplomas to rise and leave. Some 500 people exit the room.
Cohen says to himself, “I left school at 15, but what have I got to lose if I stay?” He remains.
Lastly, Gates asks all of the candidates who do not speak the Serbo-Croat language to rise and leave. So 498 people rise and leave the room.
Cohen says to himself, “I do not speak Serbo-Croat but have I got anything to lose?” He stays put.
Cohen finds himself alone with one other candidate — everyone else has gone.
Gates joins them and says: “Apparently you are the only two candidates who speak Serbo-Croatian, so I’d now like to hear you both have a little conversation in that language.”
Calmly, Maurice turns to the other candidate and says to him: “Baruch atah Adonai.”
The other candidate answers: “Eloheinu melech ha’olam.”