One Fine Day the Rabbi Bought a Cross

Rabbi David Small and his wife Miriam head to Jerusalem for a sabbatical of sorts, leaving the headaches of Rabbi Small’s Conservative synagogue in Barnard’s Crossing behind — or so they think. The son of the local Jewish grocer has joined an ultra-Orthodox yeshiva (Jewish religious school of sorts) in Jerusalem, and his parents are quite worried.

As they should be. Jordan Goodman has renamed himself (never a good sign when dealing with a cult), and the young man ends up the suspect in a murder. The story, while first published in 1987, is as fresh as the latest news: Recently, fanatical young Lubavitchers in Crown Heights in Brooklyn nearly caused their synagogue to cave in and brawled with New York police when the latter tried to show more interfere.

Fear no one as much as religious fanatics convinced they’re directed by God. The late author Harry Kemelman had a tendency to pontificate, but there’s none of that here. Highly recommended. show less

Rabbi Small and his wife are taking a vacation. They plan to go to Jerusalem to spend a few weeks with her aunt. Only, it seems much of Barnard's Crossing is going there as well. One of them is murdered, and another is suspected of the murder. Rabbi Small is able to use his good common sense and wisdom to help the police get to the bottom of it all.
Even without a mystery, I would enjoy these books. The mystery in this one was not a great puzzler, but the interaction of the people and the insight into the culture and beliefs of those involved were fascinating. One can't help but cheer for Rabbi David Small, his practical faith and good sense make him someone I would love to be around.

I like for my serial detectives to find a reason (any reason) to solve a mystery off their usual turf. The Rabbi visits Jerusalem in this one. The squabbles with his congregation are on the back burner. There is a good mix of characters and a nice sense of time and place. His books give an insight into the generation that was middle-aged in the 1980's. Their parents were emigrants or near emigrants and their children are hippieish. I suppose I find dated a good thing.

3.5*

I enjoyed this 10th book in the Rabbi Small series, which was no surprise as I have liked all the other ones I have read. However, I felt that in this case the reader learns far more about what is going on than Rabbi Small ever does which made the elucidation of the mystery & Small's part in it less prominent than in the earlier (and to my mind, better) books.

And by the way, the blurb for this particular edition is awful - it contains errors and misleading statements that give a false idea of the book.

I enjoyed this 10th book in the Rabbi Small series, which was no surprise as I have liked all the other ones I have read. However, I felt that in this case the reader learns far more about what is going on than Rabbi Small ever does which made the elucidation of the mystery & Small's part in it less prominent than in the earlier (and to my mind, better) books.

One Fine Day the Rabbi Bought a Cross. Harry Kellelman. 1987. Jim and I read this series in the 80s and thoroughly enjoyed them I had no idea I hadn’t read them all so it was a pleasant surprise when this title popped up on my Kindle. This books follows the same formula. Rabbi Small is always in some sort of trouble with his congregation; he stumbles on a mystery; and uses his training to solve the mystery and keep his job. In the book, the rabbi and his wife go to Israel to visit an aunt. A couple in his congregation ask him to meet with their son who has joined a very conservative Hebrew group. Rabbi Small contacts the young man once. Before he can arrange a second meeting, the young man is accused of murder. This was enjoyable, but show more not one of the better Rabbi Small book show less

Really liked this one!