Monday the Rabbi Took Off

Chapter Forty-Eight

It was no accident that Marty Drexler and Bert Raymond stopped in at the Deutch house Saturday morning; they knew the rabbi would be at the temple, and it was the rebbitzin they wanted to see.

She came to the door in response to their ring. "Oh, Mr. Raymond— and Mr. Drexler. The rabbi is in the temple."

"Oh, Yes, I guess he would be. wouldn't he?" Raymond sounded disappointed, but he did not turn away.

There was an awkward pause, and then to fill it. Mrs. Deutch said. "Won't you come in? Was it something urgent?" She stood aside for them. "I'm just having a second cup of coffee. Would you care to join me?"

"That would be very nice. Mrs. Deutch." said Marty.

She motioned them to the table and brought cups for them. They sat and chatted as they sipped their coffee. They both refused a second cup. Marty held up his hands to emphasize his refusal and said. "It's good coffee, but one's enough for me. What we wanted to see the rabbi about is if he'd come to any decision on a matter we talked to him last week. Did he tell you about it?"

"Yes, he mentioned it." she said cautiously.

"I guess you're concerned as much as he is. How do you feel about staying on here, Mrs. Deutch?" asked Raymond.

"The decision rests with Hugo." She removed the cups. "I'm sure you understand that, Mr. Raymond."

"Sure," said Marty. "I make the decisions in my house, but my wife tells me what to decide. I got an idea it's the same in most households. Now I got an idea that the rabbi listens and sets store by what you got to say."

"Well, of course—"

"I mean, that if you don't like the idea, if you think the rabbi is too old to undertake a new job or you got it in your head to retire to Florida, then we're barking up the wrong tree, and the sooner we know it, the quicker we can start making some alternate plans."

"As far as I'm concerned, I like it here. And I know Hugo does. Whether he's too old is up to you and your board to decide. I know he doesn't think so. And I don't think so. As for retiring to Florida. I'm sure it's the farthest thing from his mind."

"Well, if we've got you in our corner—"

"But I can tell you that what concerns him most." she went on. "is whether there is really a job here."

"I know what you mean." said Raymond earnestly, "and of course. I explained to Rabbi Deutch that we were approaching him because we had reason to believe that there is a job here."

"Look. Mrs. Deutch," said Marty Drexler impulsively. "Let me lay it on the line. When Rabbi Small took a leave of absence, and I mean took it, because Lord knows it wasn't offered, as far as I was concerned, the job was available right then and there. If it had been in my office, I would have had a replacement before the guy had cleared his whiskey bottle out of the desk drawer. And I don't think I'm tough; I'm just fair. I don't mind giving the other guy what's coming to him so long as I get what's coming to me. But a lot of guys on the board, they took the view that it was different with rabbis. So all right we agree to hire somebody temporary, namely, your good husband, while Small takes off for three months or so. But in all that time, we haven't heard a word from him. Not one word. Not so much as a line saying. 'Be seeing you soon.' Let alone any letter asking for what's happening here. So now a lot more guys have come around to my way of thinking— that there is a job here, and that we can take a hint that's like a knock on the head with a hammer as good as the next guy."

"Have you written him?"

"No. we haven't, and if somebody suggested it in the board. I'd get up on my hind legs and holler loud and clear, because I don't think it's dignified for us to write him and beg him to tell us what his plans are."

"And on top of that, Mrs. Deutch." Raymond added, "a couple of our members were in Israel and spent a day with Rabbi Small, and they got the impression— I want to be fair— that he wasn't coming back, and might even leave the rabbinate altogether."

"Well, I'll admit that we thought it strange that Rabbi Small hadn't written to us," said Mrs. Deutch.

"That's good enough for me!" exclaimed Marty. "As far as I'm concerned. Rabbi Small is definitely out of the picture."

"Now. Marty..." Raymond temporized.

"Look. Bert, that's not just my attitude. I’ve sounded out the guys on the board, and a clear majority of them say that if they have to pick between Rabbi Small and Rabbi Deutch, they're going to pick Rabbi Deutch. even if it means a fight. He's our kind of man. He's what the temple needs. And I'll tell you something, Mrs. Deutch. Bert here feels the same way, but he's a lawyer, so he can't say anything without putting in a lot of wherefores and whereases. But I'll lay it on the line to you, Mrs. Deutch, the job is open, and your husband can have it if he wants it; but he can't sit back and let it drop on him. He's got to reach for it."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Sure you do. He's got to show he wants it. There never was a job or a deal that was all clear sailing. There's always some little bind. That's life. You got to expect that. And in this case. I don't see it as any big problem. But Rabbi Deutch got to show that he wants the job. Otherwise, when Rabbi Small comes back, there are going to be people who will say that even though they prefer to have Rabbi Deutch, still and all. Rabbi Small is a young man with a family and all that kind of thing. And the first thing you know, we’ve got a fight on our hands, and things kind of sour, and some of the mud hits your husband."

Mrs. Deutch nodded. "Yes, I think I see your point."

"So is it a deal Mrs. Deutch?"

"Well, as I said, the decision is up to Hugo, but I'll undertake to talk to him."

"That's all we ask." said Marty. He rose, as did his colleague. "If I happened to run in to Rabbi Deutch, I wasn't planning to mention that I'd been here."

"Yes, I think that's good strategy," she said. "I won't mention your visit."

"That way he'll think it all comes from you." She smiled. "Yes, I think that might be better."

When they were back in the car. Bert asked. "Do you think she can bring it off?"

"It's in the bag." Marty chuckled. "I'm no philosopher or psychologist or anything, but in my business I’ve had a lot of experience sizing up couples— you know, they come in together for a loan— and I can usually tell who wears the pants. Believe me. in that household, she does."