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The Rabbi Small Mysteries #4
Monday the Rabbi Took Off
Monday takes Rabbi David Small on a private exodus to Israel for a much needed rest. But as usual, trouble follows the Rabbi. While his congregation at home is busy plotting his dismissal, the Rabbi is up against the Wall -- in an international incident involving a young American student, Israeli intelligence, and a group of Arab terrorists with murder on their minds . . .
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
320 people are currently reading
551 people want to read
About the author
Harry Kemelman
64 books146 followersHarry Kemelman was an American mystery writer and a professor of English. He was the creator of one of the most famous religious sleuths, Rabbi David Small.
His writing career began with short stories for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine featuring New England college professor Nicky Welt, the first of which, "The Nine Mile Walk", is considered a classic.
The Rabbi Small series began in 1964 with the publication of Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, which became a huge bestseller, a difficult achievement for a religious mystery, and won Kemelman a 1965 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The Rabbi Small books are not only mysteries, but also considerations of Conservative Judaism.
His writing career began with short stories for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine featuring New England college professor Nicky Welt, the first of which, "The Nine Mile Walk", is considered a classic.
The Rabbi Small series began in 1964 with the publication of Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, which became a huge bestseller, a difficult achievement for a religious mystery, and won Kemelman a 1965 Edgar Award for Best First Novel. The Rabbi Small books are not only mysteries, but also considerations of Conservative Judaism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
July 15, 2008
Rabbi Small goes to Israel around 1971. There's not much to the murder mystery in this one, but the description of his visit is interesting.
I'm amused by the temple politics in this series. I remember being a little shocked the first time I realized that religious organizations have just as much squabbling and politicking among their leadership as any other human institution.
I'm amused by the temple politics in this series. I remember being a little shocked the first time I realized that religious organizations have just as much squabbling and politicking among their leadership as any other human institution.
July 25, 2023
Rabbi David Small takes a sabbatical to Israel. While getting into the swing of things, he meets a news personality from The States with a hippie son going to college in Israel. Of course, the son is stupid enough to let Arab terrorists use him for their own ends, without even realizing what is going on.
Small helps Shin Bet get to the bottom of things. Like watching a 60's episode of Dragnet, in that it's a time capsule. I kept thinking maybe Blue Boy would show up.
Small helps Shin Bet get to the bottom of things. Like watching a 60's episode of Dragnet, in that it's a time capsule. I kept thinking maybe Blue Boy would show up.
September 19, 2007
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.
Still, these are well-crafted, engaging little mysteries, and frankly, I learned a good amount about Judaism from them.
January 5, 2017
Rabbi David Small decides he needs a vacation - a real vacation - and goes on a 3-month trip to Israel with his wife and young son. (Note: It's called a "sabbatical" but I never heard of a whole family on sabbatical like this. It's really more like a family vacation.) David has been having issues with the congregation as usual and just wants to get away for a while. David and his family are welcomed by his wife Miriam's aunt, Gittel, a savvy, resourceful and very secular Jewish member of the government. The Smalls adjust to life in Israel quite well, and it is tempting to make the stay permanent. Meanwhile, some members of David's congregation plot to replace him with someone more to their tastes.
The tension between Jews and Muslims, religious Jews and non-religious Jews, and young and old is a running theme throughout the book. Roy Stedman rebels by associating with Muslims rather than other Jewish students at his college. Gittel has to deal with her son becoming religious to please the girl he loves. There are terrorists at work setting off bombs and killing people, though not on a grand scale. This is before the Intifada.
One of the problems with the book is that there is not much of a mystery. In fact, the murder can almost be overlooked and the face of the killer is anti-climactic. The whole subplot falls flat. It's like no one cares. Then there's Roy Stedman. Apparently, his little subplot is supposed to be full of suspense - but it's not. Part of this is because Roy is a singularly unappealing character - an extremely self-centered, spoiled, obnoxious brat who never thinks about anyone other than himself, and is nasty to almost everyone he meets. Frankly, I wouldn't have minded one bit if he had ended up dead.
I learned all I never wanted to know about life in Israel in 1972. I really would have preferred a mystery.
I recommend Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, the first book in the series, or Wednesday the Rabbi Got Wet. They're much better books than this.
The tension between Jews and Muslims, religious Jews and non-religious Jews, and young and old is a running theme throughout the book. Roy Stedman rebels by associating with Muslims rather than other Jewish students at his college. Gittel has to deal with her son becoming religious to please the girl he loves. There are terrorists at work setting off bombs and killing people, though not on a grand scale. This is before the Intifada.
One of the problems with the book is that there is not much of a mystery. In fact, the murder can almost be overlooked and the face of the killer is anti-climactic. The whole subplot falls flat. It's like no one cares. Then there's Roy Stedman. Apparently, his little subplot is supposed to be full of suspense - but it's not. Part of this is because Roy is a singularly unappealing character - an extremely self-centered, spoiled, obnoxious brat who never thinks about anyone other than himself, and is nasty to almost everyone he meets. Frankly, I wouldn't have minded one bit if he had ended up dead.
I learned all I never wanted to know about life in Israel in 1972. I really would have preferred a mystery.
I recommend Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, the first book in the series, or Wednesday the Rabbi Got Wet. They're much better books than this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2022
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.
April 1, 2017
This time amateur sleuth Rabbi Small goes to Jerusalem. The setting made it all the more enjoyable and I also liked the look behind the scenes of a religious community.
February 7, 2017
Rabbi Small goes to Jerusalem circa 1970. Nothing happens for the first 200 pages of this book.For a book of 315 pages that's pretty boring! It's only interesting as a dated travel guide. By the time someone dies you're almost upset that it wasn't more people dying and it finally dawns on the Rabbi as to who and why the fellow dies on page 300! I like the series but this one's a huge yawn. Pass up on Monday and see what happens Tuesday.
June 14, 2018
Less a mystery than an easy=to=digest lesson on Judaism and Israel.
July 4, 2018
I have enjoyed the "..the Rabbi..." books, started reading them about 2 years ago. Interesting mysteries, and also to see what everyday live was like in the 50-80's - some real throwbacks in time here. Some interesting views on attitudes towards race and religion of the time come up in the books, too.
In addition, each book has a little bit, just a couple pages, about Judaism - fit into the story (why the rabbi approached something this way, how the Jewish faith interprets something, etc). I find it interesting - back when I got married, I had to take religious training (my to be husband was Jewish, I am not), 3 hours a week for 12 weeks. In the books I have read, I doubt less than a hour of the reading total has been on Judaism, yet I have learned so much more about Judaism through these "..the Rabbi.." books than the classes ever taught!
In addition, each book has a little bit, just a couple pages, about Judaism - fit into the story (why the rabbi approached something this way, how the Jewish faith interprets something, etc). I find it interesting - back when I got married, I had to take religious training (my to be husband was Jewish, I am not), 3 hours a week for 12 weeks. In the books I have read, I doubt less than a hour of the reading total has been on Judaism, yet I have learned so much more about Judaism through these "..the Rabbi.." books than the classes ever taught!
October 28, 2015
This is a cute series, informative about some aspects of Judaism and very predictable.
I liked this one less because of the secret service element. It just seemed so far fetched for bookish Rabbi Small to end up in this situation.
I liked this one less because of the secret service element. It just seemed so far fetched for bookish Rabbi Small to end up in this situation.
January 17, 2016
This was a slow moving, boring description of people in which I had no real interest .
August 11, 2017
Terribly boring
November 15, 2019
Mid-20th Century North American Crime
Oh, that first in the series was just so good...
HOOK - 1: The Small family continue to discuss the contract that the Temple won't give Rabbi David. Miriam, David's wife, apparently likes slouchy boring men...not that that's a bad thing, all in all. David is on the smart side and is just so logical. They decide to go to Jerusalem because Barnard's Crossing is really, really boring without a murder for David to solve.
PACE - 1: Stupendously dull, repetitive chapters: will Rabbi Small get a contract. Or not. Or maybe he will...or maybe, oh, maybe not...or....
PLOT - 1: International spy intrigue. Agatha Christie couldn't pull it off. Neither does Kemelman.
CAST - 2: Miriam's as yet unborn child sounds interesting. And there is a character named Memavet and that word literally means "from death." You see, Memavet is a used car salesman, and he pretty much says once you've died, any ol' job is just fine. But youjust can't help but like down-to-earth Rabbi Small. Then, new characters keep popping up and by page 300 there is at least 40 characters. TOO MANY PEOPLE!. BUT THINGS HEAT UP! Roy Stedman falls madly in love with Abdul. THEN Abdul's friend Mahmoud gets all jealous of course. Police Inspector Ish-Kosher joins the 3 guys in a prison S&M scene interrupted when they run out of lube and film. (Okay, I'm making that last stuff up mostly to stay awake.)
ATMOSPHERE - 2: There are indeed lots of interesting facts about cultures presented. And I did learn some things. But Kemelman does it like laundry lists of what people are wearing or eating, etc. The author totally misses a great opportunity here. Something things are unbelievable, though, like when Rabbi Small 'discovers' that people write prayers and place them in cracks of The Wall. I guess it's obvious exactly why the Temple at home refuses a contract for David.
SUMMARY: I am giving this a generous 1.4 rating. At 357 pages, this book is twice too long. You, too, may have to create scenes to get through this one. Like...try to guess the REAL father of Miriam's baby-on-the-way. Or, perhaps, stage your own prison fantasy.
Oh, that first in the series was just so good...
HOOK - 1: The Small family continue to discuss the contract that the Temple won't give Rabbi David. Miriam, David's wife, apparently likes slouchy boring men...not that that's a bad thing, all in all. David is on the smart side and is just so logical. They decide to go to Jerusalem because Barnard's Crossing is really, really boring without a murder for David to solve.
PACE - 1: Stupendously dull, repetitive chapters: will Rabbi Small get a contract. Or not. Or maybe he will...or maybe, oh, maybe not...or....
PLOT - 1: International spy intrigue. Agatha Christie couldn't pull it off. Neither does Kemelman.
CAST - 2: Miriam's as yet unborn child sounds interesting. And there is a character named Memavet and that word literally means "from death." You see, Memavet is a used car salesman, and he pretty much says once you've died, any ol' job is just fine. But youjust can't help but like down-to-earth Rabbi Small. Then, new characters keep popping up and by page 300 there is at least 40 characters. TOO MANY PEOPLE!. BUT THINGS HEAT UP! Roy Stedman falls madly in love with Abdul. THEN Abdul's friend Mahmoud gets all jealous of course. Police Inspector Ish-Kosher joins the 3 guys in a prison S&M scene interrupted when they run out of lube and film. (Okay, I'm making that last stuff up mostly to stay awake.)
ATMOSPHERE - 2: There are indeed lots of interesting facts about cultures presented. And I did learn some things. But Kemelman does it like laundry lists of what people are wearing or eating, etc. The author totally misses a great opportunity here. Something things are unbelievable, though, like when Rabbi Small 'discovers' that people write prayers and place them in cracks of The Wall. I guess it's obvious exactly why the Temple at home refuses a contract for David.
SUMMARY: I am giving this a generous 1.4 rating. At 357 pages, this book is twice too long. You, too, may have to create scenes to get through this one. Like...try to guess the REAL father of Miriam's baby-on-the-way. Or, perhaps, stage your own prison fantasy.
September 23, 2021
Rabbi Small takes a leave of absence and goes to Israel with his wife and son. Lots of descriptions of Jerusalem, a rural kibbutz, tourist sites. The Rabbi helps the opokice solve a mystery -- did terorists set off the bomb that killed a civilain or is there another possibility? As an Israeli citizen Miriam's Aunt Gittle shows them the ropes. A famous journalist works on a book and tries to re-connect weith his son, a university student, who as close friends with an Arab, is suspected of involvement in the bombings. A favorite quote on page 101 has a taxi driver, irritated with another driver say "May no harm befall you, but you are a great fool."
June 29, 2021
This was the second time I read this book. Can't remember when I first came across the series, but it was probably back in the 70s.
It's one of a series of entertaining murder mysteries with a mild-mannered rabbi at their heart, and a
lovely flavour of Jewishness about them. Unfortunately I've only ever been able to get hold of the first two in the series, as far as I remember.
It's one of a series of entertaining murder mysteries with a mild-mannered rabbi at their heart, and a
lovely flavour of Jewishness about them. Unfortunately I've only ever been able to get hold of the first two in the series, as far as I remember.
November 16, 2021
O rabino visita Israel com a mulher e o filho.
Lá também desvenda um homicídio, usando os seus pilpul (argumentos rabínicos).
E, mais uma vez, tiramos à prova que o nosso religioso é um homem fora do comum.
Lá também desvenda um homicídio, usando os seus pilpul (argumentos rabínicos).
E, mais uma vez, tiramos à prova que o nosso religioso é um homem fora do comum.
June 2, 2019
Rabbi Small takes a mini sabbatical in Jerusalem
December 28, 2022
Another book about Jewish culture and a mystery
The murder mystery is not the main focus of this book in the Rabbi David Small series. Instead I got a view of Judaism in 1960s Israel. The rabbi and his wife go to Israel for a sabbatical visit and get involved in the culture of that newly formed country. Rabbi Small also gets involved in a case involving an American Jewish student. Enjoyable time reading this.
The murder mystery is not the main focus of this book in the Rabbi David Small series. Instead I got a view of Judaism in 1960s Israel. The rabbi and his wife go to Israel for a sabbatical visit and get involved in the culture of that newly formed country. Rabbi Small also gets involved in a case involving an American Jewish student. Enjoyable time reading this.
January 19, 2024
This was probably my favourite Rabbi Small mystery. The Small family take a sabbatical in Jerusalem and as always, the Rabbi helps solve a mystery with his practical Jewish reasonings.
July 28, 2025
The rabbi goes to Israel, in the 60s. Still keeps my interest.
May 16, 2021
Once again Rabbi Small helps solve a murder with his analytical thinking. What makes this plot interesting is that the Ssmall family is spending three months in Jerusalem. The description of early days of the Jewish state was engaging.
December 19, 2017
a small visit to Israel
I liked Rabbi Small when he was figuring out mysteries and murders in Marblehead, otherwise known as "Barnard's Crossing", a small town in Massaschusetts in the `60s and `70s. His congregation always contained believable local characters, he dealt with people whom I could recognize, and most of all, there was more suspense and dare I say---action ! This series has many of the same characters from book to book, so you might enjoy the twang of familiar strings. If you live around Marblehead, you will certainly enjoy the familiar. Back when the books came out, locals tried to guess who was whom in reality. In MONDAY, the rabbi seems burnt out, he needs a break, a short sabbatical. He and his wife head off to Israel without much word to the folks back home as to whether they'll actually return or not. The rabbi, as usual, is not a gung-ho parish leader. He's thoughtful, he's retiring, and he doesn't kowtow to anyone. Harry Kemelman liked to explain Jewish customs and religion to his readers. I think it was an admirable part of his books; it lifted them above the average detective novel the way Tony Hillerman's Navajo characters and background did his. But if we get too much into "presentation" and too far from suspense or mystery, then the thing is going to fall a little flat. I'm afraid this number of the series plopped into that category.
Terrorist bombings in Jerusalem that turn out to be something more or less, far-fetched connections to the past, unlikely suspects, the Israeli police and security apparatus, the rabbi very tangentially involved, but using pilpul, or Talmudic reasoning to bring closure to the case (all in a few pages)---this didn't add up for me. Israeli attitudes and contradictions in the 1970s may not ring too many bells today. If you're a big Kemelman fan, of course you'll want to read this one too, but I think the ones written about a more familiar environment are better.
I liked Rabbi Small when he was figuring out mysteries and murders in Marblehead, otherwise known as "Barnard's Crossing", a small town in Massaschusetts in the `60s and `70s. His congregation always contained believable local characters, he dealt with people whom I could recognize, and most of all, there was more suspense and dare I say---action ! This series has many of the same characters from book to book, so you might enjoy the twang of familiar strings. If you live around Marblehead, you will certainly enjoy the familiar. Back when the books came out, locals tried to guess who was whom in reality. In MONDAY, the rabbi seems burnt out, he needs a break, a short sabbatical. He and his wife head off to Israel without much word to the folks back home as to whether they'll actually return or not. The rabbi, as usual, is not a gung-ho parish leader. He's thoughtful, he's retiring, and he doesn't kowtow to anyone. Harry Kemelman liked to explain Jewish customs and religion to his readers. I think it was an admirable part of his books; it lifted them above the average detective novel the way Tony Hillerman's Navajo characters and background did his. But if we get too much into "presentation" and too far from suspense or mystery, then the thing is going to fall a little flat. I'm afraid this number of the series plopped into that category.
Terrorist bombings in Jerusalem that turn out to be something more or less, far-fetched connections to the past, unlikely suspects, the Israeli police and security apparatus, the rabbi very tangentially involved, but using pilpul, or Talmudic reasoning to bring closure to the case (all in a few pages)---this didn't add up for me. Israeli attitudes and contradictions in the 1970s may not ring too many bells today. If you're a big Kemelman fan, of course you'll want to read this one too, but I think the ones written about a more familiar environment are better.
March 17, 2023
2.5 stars, rounded down. This one would have been less annoying if it had been as short as the previous ones instead of a couple of hours longer. I got tired of all the reiteration of both the congregational politics and the Israeli security people putting 2 and 2 together to get 222. Also the Roy character was too annoying for words.
On to Tuesday soon.
On to Tuesday soon.
November 15, 2021
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.
February 19, 2009
I read a few if the other books in this series many years ago and remembered enjoying them very much. This book, however, had an extremely slow start as well as a plethora of characters that I kept loosing track of.
December 28, 2023
For me, part of the charm in these stories is that not much happens in them, actually. The protagonists are just short of being typecasts, but then - nice ones....
A nice read to remember what those years were also like - with no cellphones, nor computers, not even so many cars....
A nice read to remember what those years were also like - with no cellphones, nor computers, not even so many cars....
September 26, 2017
Probably the weakest in the series. The Smalls go to Jerusalem. David thinks about quitting his Job. The Mystery he solves in not very exiting. Of course he comes back in the end.
October 22, 2018
Meh. Finished it.
Felt like the author had just gone to Israel, and wrote a book to justify it as a business expense.
Felt like the author had just gone to Israel, and wrote a book to justify it as a business expense.
January 5, 2020
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.
February 24, 2023
I didn’t like it. Too much ancillary talk that didn’t really pertain to the story. The first 6 chapters was all about his contract negotiations at the church. A bit too slow for me
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews