polyhy_14's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
janiceh's review against another edition
4.0
This series is fun to listen to as audio books. I've learned a lot about Judaism, and some of the references to the 1970s (when the series was written) makes me smile. +Good narrator.
ncrabb's review against another edition
4.0
The relationship between Rabbi David Small and his synagogue attendees in the small Massachusetts town where he lives is rocky and uneasy at best. He’s been working for a while without a contract, and the board isn’t sure it wants to renew him. But it doesn’t know quite how to diplomatically cut him loose.
Frustrated by the board’s behavior, Rabbi Small, his wife, and small son pack their things and go to Israel for several months. It’s while he is there that he discovers there are differences between the ritualistic nature of his work and the spiritual nature of things. This is a fascinating look at the age-old battle of outward appearance versus inner discipleship, although that ‘s probably the wrong word to use in this case, but I think you get the picture well enough.
Within days of his appearance in Israel, a terrorist bomb explodes not far from the house he has rented. He gets on the police radar by innocently asking someone directions to his new abode, and he does that late at night while dealing with insomnia.
When a second bomb goes off weeks later, killing a car broker whom Small and some associates of his from the States had visited earlier that day, the intelligence officials and the cops come looking again. But this time, Small must use the Talmudic wisdom he has to solve the killing and clear a young American suspected of orchestrating the death.
There isn’t any adrenaline-rich heart-palpating action here, but there rarely or never is in this series. Instead, these mysteries are rather cerebral, and you get a fascinating snapshot of at leas one faction of Judaism in the 1970s. It is fascinating indeed.
Frustrated by the board’s behavior, Rabbi Small, his wife, and small son pack their things and go to Israel for several months. It’s while he is there that he discovers there are differences between the ritualistic nature of his work and the spiritual nature of things. This is a fascinating look at the age-old battle of outward appearance versus inner discipleship, although that ‘s probably the wrong word to use in this case, but I think you get the picture well enough.
Within days of his appearance in Israel, a terrorist bomb explodes not far from the house he has rented. He gets on the police radar by innocently asking someone directions to his new abode, and he does that late at night while dealing with insomnia.
When a second bomb goes off weeks later, killing a car broker whom Small and some associates of his from the States had visited earlier that day, the intelligence officials and the cops come looking again. But this time, Small must use the Talmudic wisdom he has to solve the killing and clear a young American suspected of orchestrating the death.
There isn’t any adrenaline-rich heart-palpating action here, but there rarely or never is in this series. Instead, these mysteries are rather cerebral, and you get a fascinating snapshot of at leas one faction of Judaism in the 1970s. It is fascinating indeed.
brianlokker's review
4.0
In this fourth book of the Rabbi Small Mysteries series, Rabbi David Small takes a leave of absence from his synagogue in Barnard’s Crossing, Massachusetts, and travels to Israel with his wife Miriam and their young son, Jonathan. He anticipates being gone for three months, but he is also considering the possibility of a permanent move to Israel.
David and Miriam enjoy living in Jerusalem. The rabbi relaxes his usual religious practices somewhat because he feels different in Israel. As he tells Miriam, “‘As a rabbi, I’m a professionally religious person. I pray at stated times and in specific ways. Some of it is a matter of habit, like brushing my teeth. And some of it I have consciously practiced because I thought it important for the preservation of the religion and the people like the Englishman who was supposed to dress for dinner in the jungle. But things are different here. You don’t have to follow strict observances here because you don’t have to make the point.’”
Given the persistent tensions between the Israelis and the Arabs, it’s not surprising that terrorist bombings occur near the Smalls in Jerusalem. The authorities suspect a young American studying at the university of complicity in one of them. But Rabbi Small, who knows the young man and his father, uses his analytical skills to point the authorities in a different direction.
Meanwhile, back in Barnard’s Crossing, the rabbi’s congregation has hired a retired rabbi named Hugo Deutsch to fill in. Some leaders of the congregation come to prefer Rabbi Deutsch to Rabbi Small, and Deutsch and his wife enjoy the assignment. So there is some question about whether Rabbi Small will be welcomed back if and when he returns. This is nothing new: Rabbi Small’s job status has periodically been in jeopardy during the six years he’s spent in Barnard’s Crossing.
I enjoyed this book primarily because of its insights into Jewish culture and life in Israel (as it was in the early 1970s—the book was published in 1972). Rabbi Small’s observations about the religious and secular aspects of Israeli society, as well as about the contrast between some Israeli Jews and American Jews, are very enlightening. The “mystery” part of the book seems almost incidental, but it is always enjoyable to spend some time with Rabbi Small.
David and Miriam enjoy living in Jerusalem. The rabbi relaxes his usual religious practices somewhat because he feels different in Israel. As he tells Miriam, “‘As a rabbi, I’m a professionally religious person. I pray at stated times and in specific ways. Some of it is a matter of habit, like brushing my teeth. And some of it I have consciously practiced because I thought it important for the preservation of the religion and the people like the Englishman who was supposed to dress for dinner in the jungle. But things are different here. You don’t have to follow strict observances here because you don’t have to make the point.’”
Given the persistent tensions between the Israelis and the Arabs, it’s not surprising that terrorist bombings occur near the Smalls in Jerusalem. The authorities suspect a young American studying at the university of complicity in one of them. But Rabbi Small, who knows the young man and his father, uses his analytical skills to point the authorities in a different direction.
Meanwhile, back in Barnard’s Crossing, the rabbi’s congregation has hired a retired rabbi named Hugo Deutsch to fill in. Some leaders of the congregation come to prefer Rabbi Deutsch to Rabbi Small, and Deutsch and his wife enjoy the assignment. So there is some question about whether Rabbi Small will be welcomed back if and when he returns. This is nothing new: Rabbi Small’s job status has periodically been in jeopardy during the six years he’s spent in Barnard’s Crossing.
I enjoyed this book primarily because of its insights into Jewish culture and life in Israel (as it was in the early 1970s—the book was published in 1972). Rabbi Small’s observations about the religious and secular aspects of Israeli society, as well as about the contrast between some Israeli Jews and American Jews, are very enlightening. The “mystery” part of the book seems almost incidental, but it is always enjoyable to spend some time with Rabbi Small.
persey's review against another edition
2.0
Far too much tedious travelogue, far too little “mystery” and the resolution was ridiculous. “You must be right at that, rabbi. Done.” I also really dislike the tic present in all the books where one Jew gives an info dump to another who clearly already would have known whatever point was being made. The temple politics, however, were a hoot; the best part of the book was back in Barnard’s Crossing.
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