Customer Reviews

Someday the Rabbi Will Leave

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

David Small is the rabbi of the small Jewish community in Barnard's Crossing, Massachusetts. A conflict with the influential president of the temple and a deadly hit-and-run accident provide opportunities for Rabbi Small's keen observation and knowledge of Talmud.

While sometimes intrusive, the rather one-sided monologues on Judaism provide an interesting background, and the flawed but generally sympathetic characters make for a warm, humanistic investigation of the crime.

--inotherworlds.com

Nothing new (after 7 books) is in Bernard's Crossing, Massuchutes. A faction wants the Rabbi out, a faction wants him to stay, and the Rabbi David Small wants to be loyal to his faith.

This time the president of the temple is rich and powerful, and his daughter wants to marry a Christian. It's political - the young man is going for an office in a republican district once he gets inside information that the incumant can't run due to poor health. The rebel daughter of the Jewish temple present runs his campaign, and plots to be both the power behind the throne and married by a rabbi.

Despite a huge raise in salary given by the president of the temple, Rabbi David Small refuses to marry his daughter- or allow another Rabbi to do so in his territory. Because the Rabbi David Small won't sell his beliefs for money - or his decective skills either.

"Someday the Rabbi Will Leave" by Harry Kemelman, © 1985

Mr. Kemelman always writes a good story. The best part is the Jewish instructions. They are so simple and informative. The story is the important part, though, and it is interesting.
You have a feeling that things will turn out his way in the end, but you have to get there and it is so entertaining in the meantime. In this story the situation revolves around the election of a new council to run the synagogue and the election of the state legislature. Rabbi Small is very persistent and consistent. He has been schooled in the Jewish law and is not going it deviate from it if he can help it. The problem is that hi new president of the council wants to marry his daughter to a goy and Rabbi Small can not, in good conscience, do this marriage. It is against the rules. How it turns his way is anticlimactic, but he does, in a round about way, get his way.
It is nice that there is only one murder, not one after another trying to cover the first or something. It is a simple and to the point murder mystery: it happened, what is the evidence, how does the evidence fit the stories the various characters tell?

A new book is one you haven't read. Harry Kemelman's "Someday the Rabbi Will Leave," is a fine addition to a fun series. Rabbi David Small, always serves the synagogue at the pleasure of the members, hence his wife keeps her bags half-packed against the day when principals will conflict with desires.
Not even a healthy raise will influence Rabbi Small to perform a mixed marriage. When a neighbor is accused of a hit-and-run fatality, Rabbi Small suspects a trap, but follows his edicts to untangle another mystery. A good light read for the cozy fan who had not discovered this fine older author.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Sins of the Fathers."

Politics - both internal and external - in the Barnard's Crossing temple are the focus of this 8th entry in the Rabbi Small series. A well connected but not terribly successful local lawyer sees an opportunity to enter the political arena. The process begins slowly for him until he finds, or is found by, a dedicated, determined volunteer. A volunteer who also happens to be a beautiful young woman, and the daughter of the latest president of the temple bringing Rabbi Small into the picture. The president has discovered that Rabbi Small is underpaid compared to other rabbis and quickly rectifies the situation. A short time later his daughter announces her intention to marry a gentile, who will not be converting, in the temple he sees no problem when he contacts the rabbi to begin the wedding arrangements. When informed that not only will the rabbi not perform the ceremony, it also cannot be held in the temple nor even be conducted in the area by another rabbi yet another conflict between Rabbi Small and his congregation arises.

As always a murder occurs and a member of the local Jewish community is involved drawing the rabbi into the investigation. In the end the rabbi manages to solves the crime and weather the conflict.

This is a long running cozy series where the mystery is definitely secondary to the characters and situations involved. In fact nearly half the book takes place before the murder even occurs! This book could stand alone and be enjoyed but fans of this series will particularly enjoy seeing just what Rabbi Small and friends are up to now.

"Someday the Rabbi Will Leave" by Harry Kemelman, © 1985

Mr. Kemelman always writes a good story. The best part is the Jewish instructions. They are so simple and informative. The story is the important part, though, and it is interesting.
You have a feeling that things will turn out his way in the end, but you have to get there and it is so entertaining in the meantime. In this story the situation revolves around the election of a new council to run the synagogue and the election of the state legislature. Rabbi Small is very persistent and consistent. He has been schooled in the Jewish law and is not going it deviate from it if he can help it. The problem is that hi new president of the council wants to marry his daughter to a goy and Rabbi Small can not, in good conscience, do this marriage. It is against the rules. How it turns his way is anticlimactic, but he does, in a round about way, get his way.
It is nice that there is only one murder, not one after another trying to cover the first or something. It is a simple and to the point murder mystery: it happened, what is the evidence, how does the evidence fit the stories the various characters tell?

"Someday the Rabbi Will Leave" by Harry Kemelman, © 1985

Mr. Kemelman always writes a good story. The best part is the Jewish instructions. They are so simple and informative. The story is the important part, though, and it is interesting.
You have a feeling that things will turn out his way in the end, but you have to get there and it is so entertaining in the meantime. In this story the situation revolves around the election of a new council to run the synagogue and the election of the state legislature. Rabbi Small is very persistent and consistent. He has been schooled in the Jewish law and is not going it deviate from it if he can help it. The problem is that hi new president of the council wants to marry his daughter to a goy and Rabbi Small can not, in good conscience, do this marriage. It is against the rules. How it turns his way is anticlimactic, but he does, in a round about way, get his way.
It is nice that there is only one murder, not one after another trying to cover the first or something. It is a simple and to the point murder mystery: it happened, what is the evidence, how does the evidence fit the stories the various characters tell?

"Someday the Rabbi Will Leave" by Harry Kemelman, © 1985

Mr. Kemelman always writes a good story. The best part is the Jewish instructions. They are so simple and informative. The story is the important part, though, and it is interesting.
You have a feeling that things will turn out his way in the end, but you have to get there and it is so entertaining in the meantime. In this story the situation revolves around the election of a new council to run the synagogue and the election of the state legislature. Rabbi Small is very persistent and consistent. He has been schooled in the Jewish law and is not going it deviate from it if he can help it. The problem is that hi new president of the council wants to marry his daughter to a goy and Rabbi Small can not, in good conscience, do this marriage. It is against the rules. How it turns his way is anticlimactic, but he does, in a round about way, get his way.
It is nice that there is only one murder, not one after another trying to cover the first or something. It is a simple and to the point murder mystery: it happened, what is the evidence, how does the evidence fit the stories the various characters tell?