Read Someday the Rabbi Will Leave for Free Online

It’s better that way.” As the administrative assistant set off, Tony called to him, “Hey, you folks got anything on Fowler?”
    â€œWhat kind of thing?”
    â€œYou know, something like if he knew I knew, he might be interested in talking to me.”
    The other shook his head. “Nothing like that. If I hear of anything …”
    â€œSure.”

6
    Belle Halperin, flamboyant with reddish blond hair, was determined not to be overawed by the opulence of the Magnuson home, but all through dinner, indeed from the moment they had arrived, she couldn’t stop thinking about how she would tell “the girls” about it. “We had dinner at the Magnusons’—he’s a client of Morrie’s, you know—”
    The lamb chops and baked potato were disappointing only because she had assumed the main course would be something fancy and French. On the other hand, it would underline her description of Mrs. Magnuson: “She’s so simple and gracious and down-to-earth.”
    Later as they sipped coffee, she said to her hostess, “You have some lovely paintings.”
    â€œBelle is crazy about art,” her husband volunteered.
    â€œOh, then let me show you around,” said Sophia Magnuson. “We have some things you might like to see on the second floor.”
    â€œI’d love to.”
    Mrs. Magnuson rose. “Will you excuse us?”
    Alone with Morris Halperin, Magnuson refilled their coffee cups and said, “You’re really involved with the temple, aren’t you?”
    Halperin nodded. “That’s right. Not that I’m particularly religious, you understand, but I guess I’m the kind of guy that gets involved if he’s at all interested in something.”
    â€œI’m a little that way myself,” said Magnuson. “At least I like to know all about anything I find myself connected with. Take the temple organization. As long as I’m a member of the Board of Directors, I want to know what’s what. Of course, I’ve attended only a couple of meetings, the last one about a month ago, but it seems to me that we’re not really moving in any direction. I don’t get the impression of a program, if you know what I mean.”
    â€œWell—”
    â€œOur president seems a very decent sort, and he does a good job of running the meeting, but I don’t get the impression that he’s directing policy. I have the feeling that he’s more intent on maintaining the status quo .”
    â€œAh, you noticed.”
    Magnuson smiled. “I’ve attended enough board meetings to catch whatever signals were flying. Feinberg is what I’d call an interim president.”
    â€œMarvelous,” said Halperin. “You’re absolutely right. You see, we are a Conservative temple, because Conservatism is a kind of compromise between Orthodoxy and Reform. Since the community isn’t big enough to support more than one temple, it pretty much has to be Conservative. And while some of our presidents have leaned towards Reform, and others have tended towards Orthodoxy, all of them have been basically Conservative. Except one. A couple of years back Chester Kaplan managed to get elected, and he’s out-and-out Orthodox.”
    â€œKaplan? That fat, little chap with the skullcap who sits down at the end of the table? Lawyer, isn’t he?”
    â€œThat’s right. And a successful one. He wears the yarmulkeh because the meeting is held in the temple. He also wears it at home. He’d wear it in court, I’m sure, if he thought the judge wouldn’t object or that it might not have a bad effect on the jury. And he goes to the minyan every day, morning and evening. The year he was president, he all but split the congregation.”
    â€œSo Feinberg was elected to heal the wounds, eh?”
    â€œMore or less. Anyway, to steer a middle course. And he did a very creditable job,