Monday the Rabbi Took Off

A Rabbi Small Mystery, Book 4

By: Harry Kemelman

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Popular author Harry Kemelman combines baffling crimes, fascinating characters, and rich Jewish tradition to create his best-selling mystery series. In Monday the Rabbi Took Off, an exhausted Rabbi David Small searches for relaxation in Israel, only to find himself in the midst of an explosive international incident. After six years of leading a challenging congregation, Rabbi Small is taking his dream vacation: three months in Jerusalem without any rabbinical duties. He is finally getting the rest he needs - until a new acquaintance is found dead after a bombing. Suddenly the savvy young Rabbi is up against the formidable Israeli intelligence and faceless Arab terrorists with murder on their minds. With Harry Kemelman’s dramatic flair, you will feel as if you are walking the colorful streets of Jerusalem alongside the perceptive Rabbi Small. George Guidall - personally approved for this unabridged recording by the author’s estate - skillfully breathes life into the ordinary people caught in extraordinary situations.

©1972 Harry Kemelman (P)1998 Recorded Books

As ahh

I loved the reflections of the Holy land. It all seemed to fit. instead of purposely meeting people, it flowed from happening to happening.

Much better than last.

So glad this one wasn’t just a bunch of kvetching!
Last 2 were bit irritating with all that; too much.
Here’s a interesting story; again with good characters, like the 1st book. Enjoyed it.

so far best in the series

I love Rabbi Small mysteries. They are charming, old fashioned in a good sense and talk about so much more than a mystery, yet mysteries are good too. This one has additional benefit of showing Israel at the time between six days war and Yom Kippur war. Wholeheartedly recommended.

clever plot

I find the Rabbi's continual quarrels with Temple leadership less attractive than the subtle ways the Rabbi solves problems.

Interesting mystery, almost incidental to story.

The Rabbi takes a leave of absence to spend 3 months in Jerusalem. The book was publshed in 1972, so was written in the period between the 6-day war (1967) and the Yom Kippur War (1973). This was around the time I first visited Israel, so I experienced a certain nostalgia in the listening. Among other things, the story dramatizes the tension between the sabras and non-religious Jews and the strictly observant Hasidim and other religious sects, a tension that has only become more exacerbated with time, especially in Jerusalem and environs. In this story, it is dramatized mostly by conflicts between parents and children. The mystery itself concerns the murder of an auto trader, apparently by a terrorist bomb. As usual, the Rabbi eventually solves the crime for the police, seemingly by logic, although I found it hard to believe he could have discerned all that he told just by a careful examination of some of the evidence. Despite my disappointment, I don't regret the time spent listening. The narration by George Guidall is excellent, as usual.

Terrorists and Murder in Israel

A fascinating insight into Israel in the late 1960’s. Rabbi Small takes a three month visit to Jerusalem to contemplate what he wants to do with the rest of his life. While there we get to see the ups and downs of the county. We meet Arabs and Jews. We meet terrorists and bomb makers and murderers. We meet policemen and security agents. Civil servants and doctors. And normal people just living their lives. The story and the narrator made me feel like I was there. And of course the rabbi solves the murder and proves the innocence of the wrongly accused young suspect.

Eretz Yisrael

Monday the Rabbi Took Off is one of my 2 favorite Rabbi Small books. The performance is excellent.

Rabbi Small goes to Israel...

This series is amazing: the writing is creative, the characters totally believable, and
the lessons within are heartfelt. In this installment, Rabbi Small feels a need to get away,
but in Israel? Yes.. and the author seriously delves into the issues of security and government
within the plot. Kemelman has a wonderful way of knitting new characters along with the people who
inhabit the Rabbi's world.. this is does artfully, and always gives growth to the characters.
Well done! Yes, these books are dated, but still they are wonderful nonethless.

Some sabbatical!

cultural-exploration, cultural-heritage, Israel, Jewish, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, church-politics, investigation, family-dynamics, friendship, situational-humor*****

Originally published January 1, 1972, this story is timely for 2021 just as it was then. After six years without a vacation Rabbi Small really needs to take his family with him and take a sabbatical in Israel to recharge his batteries and gain a new perspective on the politics within his congregation. A retired Rabbi is brought in temporarily and (if you believe in coincidences) the wife's brother and his son are in Israel and run afoul of authorities there. Excellent observations and critical thinking are required for sleuthing and infinite patience is required at the home synagogue. Very well done!
George Guidell is the calm narrator with a wry sense of humor.

disappointing

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

less trivia and some mystery or detective content

Would you ever listen to anything by Harry Kemelman again?

no thanks

What about George Guidall’s performance did you like?

good reader, boring book

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

no thanks

Any additional comments?

very misleading, the book was described as a mystery but it is so full of irrelevant interpersonal conversations and trivial details that have nothing to do with a crime or mystery, it is a waist of time