Wednesday the Rabbi got wet

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Don't do it, David," Miriam urged. "Kaplan put one over on you. Don't give him the added satisfaction of showing him that you're hurt."

"I can't just let it pass," the rabbi said, but he took his hand off the telephone.

"But you don't know what happened, all you know is what some woman told you they were going to do at the meeting. You don't know if they actually did it. Why not wait until they tell you officially?"

Her husband sat down, and since he appeared receptive, she continued. "You think they voted to buy that place up in Petersville, well, what if they did? They have a right to, haven't they? They don't need your permission. You're just invited to attend board meetings as a guest. You weren't elected to the board."

He nodded. "No, of course not, and if thev want to buv a piece of land up-country for some ordinary purpose—"

"Like what?"

"Well, even for investment. I might have some thoughts on the wisdom of the move, but no real interest as rabbi of the congregation. But on the basis of what Kaplan has let drop the last couple of months, I am reasonably sure they plan to use the place as a retreat. Now that does concern me."

"Well, I suppose since it's a religious thing—"

He looked at her in surprise. "It's more than that. It's not just something that I feel they should have asked me about, like— like whether to buy a new Scroll of the Law. This retreat idea involves a change in the direction that the temple is taking. Suppose they're considering doing away with the Bar Mitzvah at the age of thirteen in favor of a confirmation at fifteen or sixteen as is the case in many Reform temples. Or suppose they decided to institute a new seating arrangement where women would be separated from men as in Orthodox synagogues. Those are not the kinds of things where just my opinion or advice is involved. In matters of that sort which indicate a basic change in the temple, it is my consent that they must get."

"And if they refuse?"

"Then I resign, of course," he said simply. "I say, in effect, I am a Conservative rabbi and as such accepted a position with a Conservative congregation. Now you wish to become a Reform congregation or an Orthodox congregation. Very well, it is your right, but I cannot continue to serve."

Miriam was troubled. "Aren't you overreacting, David?" she hazarded. "If a few members of your congregation want to go into the woods and pray on their own—"

"It's not a few members. It's the president and the board of directors of the temple, presumably acting for the congregation as a whole, and using congregation monies, and they're not just going into the woods to pray, they're setting up a branch of the temple and are engaging this rabbi, of whose views I know nothing, to guide them." He got up and went to the telephone.

Miriam tried once again. "Well, even as a matter of tactics, wouldn't it be better if the board notified you about what happened at the meeting? I mean, wouldn't it be better if they came to you, instead of you going to them? For all you know, Kaplan plans to call you sometime this afternoon or even to come over to explain it."

He considered. "I doubt if he will, he probably expects to see me at the minyan this evening."

"Same thing."

He was silent as he thought about it. Finally he said, "Maybe."

He was moody all afternoon and spent most of it in his study. Miriam realized that her husband was deeply hurt and did not disturb him. But in the evening, she entered his study and was surprised to see that he was standing in the corner praying, his lips moving rapidly as he recited the Shimon Esra, she waited until he was finished and said. "Aren't you going to the minyan. David?"

He shook his head. "No. I'm not, and I don't think I'll go for the rest of the week."

"They'll think you're sulking."

He grinned. "Let them, maybe I am, at that. I haven't decided just what I'm going to do, but I am not going to argue this issue in the corridor with Kaplan and whoever else might decide to join in. I'll wait until Sunday and then when the minutes of the previous meeting are read. I'll know exactly what they did and act accordingly. If they have passed a motion to buy the land in Petersville for a retreat, then I'll ask for reconsideration."

"And if they reconsider and end up voting the same way?"

"Then I shall ask that they call for a general meeting of the membership where I can state my views and ask for a vote by the congregation as a whole."

"And if they refuse?"

"Then, of course, I will resign"