Monday the Rabbi Took Off

The Rabbi, his wife, and young son head to Israel for three months--without pay! This gives the rabbi a chance to unravel an Israeli death and the author a chance to tell us all about Israel. Quite interesting and at least it's a change from the formula of the first three books, although there is still the usual band of synagogue idiots trying to replace the rabbi, this time with his slick substitute--who looks like a rabbi!

I liked the "Rabbi" series of books a lot. The problem is, after "Wednesday" or so, the formula wore a bit thin: the rabbi has some argument or disagreement with someone in his congregation. Someone gets killed. The rabbi has a fight with the Board of Directors at the shul. He threatens to leave. He solves the murder mystery. He resolves the problem with the person in his congregation and his Board of Directors, and everything is fine. Until the next book, where we repeat.

Still, these are well-crafted, engaging little mysteries, and frankly, I learned a good amount about Judaism from them.

Read after long urging by spouse, this is ... a great book! As to the mystery part, maybe not so much (2/3 of the way through the book we have a crime, but it seems ... perfunctory? ) The value is the deep, but conversational / approachable view of Judaism propounded throughout the book- from the Boston suburbs to the narrow streets of old Jerusalem (the rabbi is taking a 3 month sabbatical). Leisurely paced, lots of quasi-comic politicking over the extension of the Rabbi's contract back home. The Rabbi feels connected to his religion in Israel, so much so that he is less committed to his scheduled norms- prayers, synagogue and the sabbath- Just being in Jerusalem is enough he says over and over again. As to the "mystery" ... eh.... he show more seems something in a photograph that exonerates his friend's son- so we're all happy. That gets wrapped up in about 3 paragraphs. So--- why call this a mystery? i don't know. show less

This time our favorite rabbi is taking a sabbatical in Israel. I totally understood the need to get away from the job and get a fresh look at life so I empathized with the rabbi. The book is a product of its time, so the Israel we read about is early 1970s Israel with the people and ethics of the time.

I enjoyed this quiet mystery and the glimpse into Israeli life of the time. To keep me grounded back in the US, there were the political machinations behind the scene at the synagogue. Will Rabbi Small have a job to return to? Will he want to come back to the scheming board or will he pick back up out of a sense of duty?

The mystery wasn't terribly difficult to solve for me; what mattered were the people in the book as they came to matter show more to me.

Not quite a cozy mystery, this book is recommended for those who enjoy a cozier traditional mystery or a more traditional cozy mystery. show less

This was my first encounter with one of the Rabbi Small mysteries. This one’s set in Israel, after 1967 but before 1973. The setting gives our author an excuse to take little jabs at both sides of the Occupation conflict. It's a decent mystery bound up with the musings of a liberal Conservative rabbi in midlife crisis.

The cover illustration, showing a man in Arab costume trying to elude another man with a knife, has absolutely nothing to do with the story.

Rabbi Small finally gets to visit Jerusalem. Bombs are being detonated in the heart of Jerusalem and somehow our Rabbi ends up on the suspicious character list.

This book seemed to putter about, not really adding up to a mystery or involving me much in the affairs of Rabbi Small. I was enjoying it though, simply because it was a terrific glimpse of a time, place and culture. When it finally arrived at the mystery, it was satisfying. I had it figured out, but that did not lessen my enjoyment of the good Rabbi's denouement. Then end of the book made me a bit sad for him, but I suppose it had to be.

I liked reading about 1970's Israel. And I like the characters especially when you get the Rabbi away from his annoying congregation. The murder doesn't happen till half way through the book. This is probably for the best because I figured it all out almost as soon as it happened. The idea for the murder was good but so little time is spent on it that the water isn't muddied with red herrings. I recommend it as "The Smalls go to Israel". But as a puzzle it's an easy connect the dots.