< 1 min read
The famed city of Chelm, where residents are known for not being so bright, wanted to change their reputation. So they convened an academic conference. They invited three professors: an engineer, a physicist and a mathematician for a panel discussion to be moderated by Chaim Yankel, the smartest man in Chelm.
Chaim Yankel opened up the session by asking the academics to name the greatest invention of all time.
The engineer chose fire, which gave humanity power over matter.
The physicist chose the wheel, which gave humanity the power over space.
The mathematician chose the alphabet, which gave humanity power over symbols.
Chaim Yankel added his two cents and chose the thermos bottle.
"Why a thermos bottle?" the others asked.
"Because the thermos keeps hot liquids hot in winter and cold liquids cold in summer."
"Yes – so what?"
"Think about it," said Chaim Yankel stroking his beard. "That little bottle – how does it know?!”