Read That Day the Rabbi Left Town for Free Online Page A

of Religion in my senior year in college because—because it was supposed to be a snap course. And it was, but I got terribly interested in Judaism as a result. And when I graduated I applied for admission to the Seminary. It took me seven years to get my degree there, but in dealing with my congregation I still felt like someone who has taken a Berlitz course talking to a native. See what I mean?”
    â€œAnd here?”
    â€œWell, this congregation is a lot younger, and I get the feeling that a lot of them have the same background I have. At least, that’s the feeling I got when I met with the Board of Directors.”
    â€œReally? From what was said, or—”
    Selig laughed shortly. “More from the way they reacted to what I said. Like, I jog two or three times a week. Well, my old congregation, at least many of the members, were pretty upset if they saw me in shorts or a sweat suit. I mentioned to the Board here that I jog and a couple of them said they did, too, and maybe we could run together.”
    â€œThat would be Bob Kruger and Henry Myers, I imagine,” said Rabbi Small.
    â€œI wouldn’t know. I was introduced to all of them, of course, but I don’t remember all of the names. Well, that was just one thing. There were other little hints that I got that suggested this was a different kind of congregation from my old one. When I was first contacted, for instance, I told them that if they hired me, that’s all they’d get; that my wife would not be part of the deal. I mean she wouldn’t be the traditional rebbetzin, going to all the Sisterhood and Hadassah meetings. She has her own career. She’s a lawyer. It was the cause of some flak in my former congregation, but these guys just nodded, like it was only to be expected.”
    â€œWill she be practicing here?” asked Rabbi Small. “Has she made arrangements with some local law office?”
    â€œNot yet. See, she has to pass the Mass, bar exam in order to practice here. She’s planning to take a bar review this year to prepare for it.”
    â€œWell, I wish her luck.”
    Later, after the Seligs had gone, Miriam asked, “What do you think of him, David?”
    â€œI think he’ll be popular with the congregation. He’s just what they want. He’s tall and good-looking, so the women will like him. And he’s young, so the younger men who constitute the majority will feel he’s one of them. Yes, he should do all right here. Probably a lot better than I did.”
    A few days later, when the two rabbis met at the minyan, Rabbi Small asked, “Well, how do you like your new house?”
    â€œIt’s fine. Yesterday, when it was so hot, we sat on the verandah, and it was delightfully cool. Oh, a funny thing happened. While we were sitting on the verandah, a man came walking up the driveway. I thought he was coming to see me, but he walked right on. So I hailed him, and when he didn’t answer, I called out, ‘You’re trespassing.’ Without even stopping, he shouted back, ‘Right-of-way,’ and went right on. So I called the agent that rented us the place and he said there might be a right-of-way to the beach; that he’d look it up.”
    â€œIt bothers you?”
    â€œWell, if there is a right-of-way to the beach, not too many will be making use of it with the summer practically over. But I don’t think I’d care to buy a place where people could come traipsing along with their kids and hampers and beach umbrellas.”
    â€œThat could be annoying, especially if you happen to be having a party outdoors. Your agent thinks there might be a reference to a right-of-way in a previous deed?”
    â€œI guess so, but my wife says that if it’s a right-of-way that has always been exercised, there might be no mention of it in any deed.”
    â€œI could ask Hugh Lanigan. He’d know if anyone would.”
    â€œHugh