"Well, it's a little different with us," said the rabbi. "The rabbi is not a priest."
"Yes, I know. you’ve explained it to me, but does your congregation know it or do they feel the need of the hocus-pocus anyway?"
"I guess some of them do." said the rabbi. "Maybe all of them at one time or another."
"Well, that's why Rabbi Deutch was so popular, I suppose. I heard him once when he chaired a meeting. He kind of intoned, if you know what I mean. Very impressive. Now with us the priest wears a uniform, and the vestments are a kind of full-dress uniform. You people don't go in for that, so you’ve got to get the effect by voice and manner, because a uniform is important. Ask any cop."
The rabbi glanced at the chiefs blue cap on the floor beside him and said with a smile, "The chief of police in Jerusalem or at least the inspector wears one of these." And he touched the yarmulke he was wearing.
"Is that so? You mean that's part of his uniform? He wears it in the street?"
"No. he has a cap like yours. It was just while he was in his office—"
"You saw him in his office? Did you get involved with the police over there?"
The rabbi grinned. "Not really. There was a bombing, and I had some knowledge of it and was questioned by the police."
"A bombing! And you were grilled by the police?"
"I suppose you could call it a grilling." said the rabbi, smiling reminiscently. "But it was mostly about my religious views. The inspector doubted my orthodoxy."
The chief shook his head in wonderment. "A policeman questioning your religious orthodoxy? What kind of place is it where a cop would question a rabbi on his religious views? That's police business?"
"It's that kind of place." said the rabbi, "and it is not general. Just this particular cop."
"But you say there was a bombing. Then there is danger there—"
"Oh, no."
"Now. look here. The monsignor over in Salem is leading a group to Ireland. Rome, and then the Holy Land. The missus had been making noises about going and I’ve half a mind to let her. But if there's danger—"
"Oh, there's no danger." said Miriam. "For her," she added. "But for us—"
"What danger was there for you?" the chief demanded.
Miriam looked at her husband. He smiled. "For us," he said, "there's always the danger that we won't come back."