The Thirty-Third Hour

by Mitchell Chefitz

Th e Thirty-third Hour opens at midnight Saturday, in the study of Rabbi Arthur Greenberg, the leader of the largest synagogue in Miami. The Rabbi has until 9 a.m. Monday morning, thirty-three hours, to investigate a sex ethics charge brought against one of his colleagues by a member of the congregation, Brenda, an attractive widow and the mother of an autistic son.

That colleague, Moshe Katan, an associate from Arthur's seminary days, has been leading an experimental family education program at the synagogue, bringing together parents and children to explore the stories of the Bible in new and challenging ways. Now, piled on Arthur's desk are the video and audio recordings of these sessions and Brenda's journal, which he has to review in a desperate attempt to avoid a disastrous scandal. The reader becomes judge and jury as Arthur seeks to find out what happened and, in the process, undergoes a spiritual transformation himself.

Genres: Fiction, Jewish, Judaica

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 29, 2002

Reviews

[S R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mitch Chefitz has a gift for sharing aspects of Judaism through fiction with wonderful character development throughout the book. One character, Rabbi Arthur Greenberg, has inner struggles that are resolved by the end of the book. I read Book 1: "The Seventh Telling" previously which focused on Rabbi Moshe Katan and his class which focused on Kabbalah stories. The main character from Book 1 continues in this book which shared Torah stories and activities presented at a Family Education program. Being a Sunday school teacher, I will actually incorporate some of the creative ways of teaching Torah that were presented in the book (loved the bean bag activity and you will need to read the book to know what it is). I really enjoyed reading the book and had a hard time putting it down.

[Bluma Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done A wide range of Jewish beliefs from mystical to current times. Well presented as the Rabbi who is a pondering over a delicate issue that could have a very bad outcome for the future of his Temple. Brought in accurate Torah info along with Kabbalah. I really liked it and felt present in this on going investigation that turned personal.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rotating between 3 and 4 stars. As a Jewish community volunteer, actively engaged in how the future of American Jewry changes, I found it insightful. Some of the biblical teachings ruminated and I found my mind wandering. Ultimately glad I read it.

[DROPPING OUT · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second volume of the trilogy. The protagonist is an eminently successly pulpil rabbi at a large Reform congregation. A looming scandal leads the rabbi to lock himself away for a weekend in order to view over thirty recorded hours of congregational activity led by Rabbi Small, who was brought in as a scholar-in-residence. By the end of sitting through these videos the protagonist realizes how utterly hollow his life has been and how empty his ministry. This book has been required reading by some instructors at Hebrew Union College, the Reform Movement's seminary.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel by a rabbi from Florida which is the story of a rabbi from Florida who is investigating a report of sexual misconduct in his congregation over a period of thrty-three hours, by watching videotapes and listening to audiotapes of the accused and reading the journal of the accuser. The jacket says Chefitz is "one of the finest of a new generation of American Kabbalists."

[Devorah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exploration of how a chaverah can work to enrich Jewish experience. The potential crisis is just a vehicle for us to experience the tapes of Moshe Katan's class. It is also the second book featuring Moshe, but can stand on its own. Frankly, Rabbi Greenburg wasn't an impressive character, but Moshe makes up for his lapses.

[Ben Kruskal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A continuation of the story line of the Seventh Telling. This book isn't nearly as good and I found it hard to get started, but once I got into it, like the Seventh Telling, it was a compelling storyline.

[LISA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interested in mystical Jewish learning ... it was an OK look into it....

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery with satisfying ending, but tedious.

[Sarah Bollt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I had a hard time putting it down.