Dipping the apple into the honey this year was Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who was among Rosh Hashanah guests of Israeli Ambassador Gideon Meir in Rome. He assured his host of his strong friendship with Israel, especially after visits to Yad Vashem and Auschwitz.

Which didn't stop the elderly Lothario causing uproar a couple of days later when he attempted a "joke" about Hitler at a youth event: the Führer is discovered alive by supporters. "I will return," he tells them, "but on one condition... this time, I will be evil, right?"

Critics immediately pounced, demanding Berlusconi apologise to Israel and the Jewish people. But it is really the offence against the good name of comedy for which he should be doing teshuvah.