Why Is This Night Different?

During one of his many trips to London, George Burns became friends
with a very wealthy, yet very modest, Jewish chap named Hyman
Goldfarb. On one visit, Hy told George that because of his large
donations to charities through the years, the Queen wanted to knight
him, but he was going to turn it down. "That's a great honour," George
said. "Why would you turn it down?"

"Because during the ceremony you have to say something in Latin," he
said. "And I don't wish to bother studying Latin just for that."

"So say something in Hebrew. The Queen wouldn't know the difference."

"Brilliant," Hy complimented George, "but what should I say?"

"Remember that question the son asks the father on the first night of
Passover?... 'Why is this night different from all other nights?' Can
you say that in Hebrew?"

"Of course," he said. "Ma nishtana ha leila hazeh. Thank you, old
sport, I shall become a knight."

At the ceremony Hy waited his turn while several of the other honorees
went before the Queen. Finally they called his name. He knelt before
Her Majesty, she placed her sword on one shoulder and then on the
other, and motioned for Hy to speak. Out came "Ma nishtana ha leila
hazeh."

The Queen turned to her husband and said, "Why is this knight
different from all other knights?"