The time is the French Revolution.
Yossi lived in a small village and one day, his friend Roberto came to see him after returning from a trip to Paris.
Yossi asked Roberto what was happening in Paris as he had heard they were regularly using the Guillotine.
"Yes, you heard right," said Roberto, "conditions there are as bad as can be.
They are chopping off people's heads in their thousands."
"Oy vay," moaned Yossi, "what ever will happen to my hat business?"