A Hole In One, Paul Weininger [top novels to read txt] 📗

how many years has it been since you first took over our congregation and then started playing golf with us? It seems just like yesterday to me.”

Bloom seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the question. “About sixteen years now, Todd, why do you ask?”

“Just seeing you up there, Neil, and on the golf course, makes me so proud to be your friend, and I was just wondering how long we have known each other because I couldn’t remember,” Todd replied innocently. This seemed to put the Rabbi more at ease.

But Todd noticed two problems with Bloom’s response. He had answered “sixteen years” regarding how long he had served as the Rabbi in Sedona—the correct answer was eighteen years. This could have been a simple memory lapse, but not on the question of how long he’d known Todd.

Back in the day, Todd and Jack, longtime golfing partners, decided they needed another pair at the golf course to make it a foursome. That’s when they had bumped into Rabbi Bloom and Tony, who were also looking for a foursome. They all agreed to play golf as a group from then on, but that was ten years ago.

Now, as they chatted after synagogue, Bloom made a startling comment. “By the way, Todd,” Bloom said, “I won’t be playing with you guys any longer because I have a pinched nerve in my back. I can barely move and certainly can’t swing.”

“That’s just an excuse, Neil, because you’ve never been able to swing,” Todd teased. Privately, he was quite disturbed by the Rabbi’s announcement. A few minutes later, when Todd was alone, he decided to call Detective Pratt again.

The detective answered the phone. “This is Pratt. What can I do for you, Dr. Stern?” His caller ID told him who was on the line.

“Well, Detective, I’ve seen some unusual things lately at the synagogue and was wondering if you could come by my home, so we can discuss them.”

Pratt answered without hesitation, “I can be there first thing in the morning, say eight o’clock, if that’s all right with you. I like to get an early start to my day. If you’ll just give me your address, I’ll be there at eight sharp.”

The next morning, the detective couldn’t have been more punctual if he lived next door to Todd. “Okay, Dr. Stern, what’s up?” he asked.

“I noticed two unusual things about the Rabbi. One was about a half-inch sized birthmark on his neck, which I’m almost certain was never there before. The other was when he gave me the wrong answers as to how many years he has been leading our synagogue, and how many years we’ve known each other.”

Pratt was silent for a moment thinking about what this could mean. “I don’t know about the math mistakes,” Pratt told Todd, “but that birthmark stuff sure seems odd. I’d like to see the mark on his neck at the synagogue.”

“Why not come next Saturday and attend the services with me?” suggested Todd. “Perhaps you’ll see what I’m talking about and notice something that I haven’t.”

“What time do services begin? I’ll pick you up in an unmarked car.”

“There are usually two services on Saturdays, because not everyone can make it to the first one at 8:00 a.m. The second service starts at 11:00. Services usually only last an hour unless there is a bar mitzvah and there are none this coming Saturday; I checked. The synagogue holds about five hundred people and there are twelve hundred congregants, so that’s another reason Neil holds two services.”

“I’ll be at your house at 7:15 in the morning, which should give us plenty of time to get to the synagogue and grab a seat in time for the eight o’clock service,” said Pratt.

At the opening of a Sabbath service, the Rabbi always welcomes the crowd, thanks them for coming to this house of God and has them rise for the first prayer, always said in Hebrew.

The Rabbi came out, stood on the bimah, welcomed the crowd, and started the Hebrew prayer. “Barook ah-tow ah-doughnoy…, mellek, hoalom,” meaning “Blessed are You, oh Lord, Source of Peace…” But Todd noticed that he neglected to say “Eloheinu,” the word for “Lord,” which should have followed after ah-doughnoy but before mellek hoalom. He leaned over to Pratt and whispered, “There, right there, he just made another flub; and this is a major one that I hadn’t noticed before.”

“What did he do?”

“It’s what he didn’t do that really matters. He left out the word ‘Eloheinu’ which is said just before the next word ‘mellek.’ Leaving this word out is not only unforgivable but an unnatural mistake for a Rabbi to make, considering that its meaning is ‘Lord Our God….’ This is unquestionably a major error for a Rabbi to make. Even children taking lessons for their bar mitzvah and everyone in the congregation knows how to start that prayer in Hebrew,” Todd excitedly whispered.

“Can there be an alternative explanation such as starting the service with another prayer?” Pratt asked.

“Yes, but only during certain services known as the mourner’s prayer for the deceased, called Yiskor, which may start differently. Perhaps one or two others during special Jewish holidays, but not for a normal Sabbath prayer. During every week of the year, while the Rabbi begins the service, those who’ve lost a loved one during the past twelve months stand up and say the Yiskor prayer very quietly to themselves so as not to interrupt the Rabbi. As far as I know as a lay person, all other prayers that are said in Hebrew mention Lord our God and that word is Eloheinu and he didn’t say it.”

“That is strange indeed,” said Pratt. “I think I’ll check into this a little further.” They waited until the service was over and people were on their way out to talk further. Todd shook hands with Bloom, telling him how good his sermon was today while Pratt continued to walk away.

“Thank you, Todd, I always appreciate it when my congregants can stay