Read Someday the Rabbi Will Leave for Free Online Page A

which is why he was reelected twice.”
    â€œAnd next year?”
    â€œAh, that’s the problem, Mr. Magnuson. At the last meeting of the board, Feinberg announced that he was resigning, effective next month. His wife is sick and they’re moving to Arizona.”
    â€œSo it’s the vice-president then—”
    â€œWe have no vice-president. Abe Kahn died less than a month after he took office. It was not unexpected. He was a sick old man.” In response to Magnuson’s raised eyebrow, he explained. “He’d been a member from the beginning and contributed a lot of money. Folks thought some sort of recognition was due him. You know how it is on the High Holy Days. The president and the rabbi sit on one side of the Ark, and the vice-president and the cantor—when he’s not actually leading the prayers—sit on the other. So they thought having Kahn sit up there beside the Ark would make him feel he was appreciated.”
    â€œI see. So with no vice-president and the president resigning, there will be another election?”
    â€œThat’s right. A special election. And Kaplan is planning to run again.”
    â€œIf his administration was such a fiasco, I shouldn’t think he’d have much of a chance,” Magnuson observed.
    â€œThat’s where you’re wrong. The election is held at a meeting of the general membership. We have about three hundred and fifty members, but I don’t suppose more than a couple of hundred will show up. Of those two hundred, maybe fifty know what’s going on. Now Kaplan has a tight group of true believers. And they’ll go to work. Some members will vote for him because his name is familiar. Others will vote for him because he’s observant and they feel that the president of a synagogue should be. Oh, I’d say he’s got a damn good chance.”
    â€œAnd who would you be running against him? I take it you’re part of his opposition?”
    â€œWell, that’s the trouble. We haven’t been able to decide on any one man. Feinberg’s announcement took us by surprise. We’re not organized behind one man. We’ve got too many possibles.”
    â€œHow about yourself? Are you interested?”
    â€œOh no. It takes too much time, for one thing. It really calls for an older man, and preferably one who doesn’t have to make his living from the community the way I do.”
    â€œWhy is that? I should think the advertising would be useful.”
    Halperin shook his head. “It’s essentially a political position, which means that while half the membership might be strong for you, the other half is apt to be against you. I can’t afford that.”
    â€œI used to be involved with Temple Zedek in Boston. My grandfather was one of the founders,” said Magnuson, seemingly apropos of nothing at all.
    â€œI was hoping you might get interested. I’m sure your backing of our man, whoever we pick—”
    â€œI’m not much good at staying in the background,” said Magnuson. “When I get involved with an organization, I want to run it.”
    â€œDoes that mean—?” Halperin had an inspiration. “Look here, would you be willing to run?”
    â€œWell now, that’s pretty sudden. I’d have to think about it.”
    â€œWell, would you think about it?” asked Halperin earnestly.
    â€œI don’t know. Of course, if I thought I had a chance of winning—”
    â€œIt’s an election, so there can’t be any guarantees, but—”
    â€œOh, I wouldn’t expect a guarantee, but I wouldn’t want to look silly. I’m new to the organization and unknown—”
    â€œUnknown? Cummon, Mr. Magnuson. Who’s better known around here? Who hasn’t heard of Magnuson and Beck, the biggest department store in Boston?”
    â€œIn New England.” Magnuson corrected him. “We’re not