Part 2: We've got mail
Before we decide what to do next, let's futz with the Rabbi's computer.
He claimed I needed to join the twenty-first century and connect with the community.
Josh has been bugging me to start using it. I suppose now was as good a time as any.
If only I could remember what Josh chose as my login and password...
Ravnet New York is where things get somewhat complicated for us. Basically, figuring out Rabbi Stone's username and password is the game's first puzzle.
Hmm, I wonder if anything we're carrying might help...
A business card, eh?
Inspecting the card, we learn what must be our username: rstone.
Splendid.
To guess the password, let's consult the conveniently supplied clue.
And this is where the second item we have in our inventory, a Yiddish Dictionary, comes in handy.
Yenta: A busybody
So obvious.
No rabbinical interface can do without a Jewish Joke option. Let's hear one, then.
quote:
Martin Lewis converts and becomes a priest. He gives his first Mass in front of a number of high ranking priests who came for the occasion. At the end of the new priest's sermon, a cardinal goes up to congratulate him.
"Pastor Lewis," he said, "That was very well done, you were just perfect. But next time, please don't start your sermon with "Fellow Goyim..."
But wait, that isn't the only joke there is.
quote:
Moishe walks into a post office to send a package to his wife.
The postmaster says, "This package is too heavy, you'll need another stamp."
Moishe replies, "And that should make it lighter?"
There are also other, no less funny ones, but I'll spare you the humour.
For something more plot-related, we open our mailbox.
Apparently Rabbi Stone's mailbox only has the Incoming folder; he isn't one for writing emails himself.
And that "jkaplan" must be the cantor.
Helpful guy, this Cantor Josh.
quote:
FROM dave@davelgil.com: Great games!
For the best in games and entertainment, visit http://www.davelgil.com!
Shameless self-promotion. The Blackwell games really are great, though.
quote:
FROM admin@ravnetNY.com: Welcome to Ravnet New York!
Mazel Tov!
Welcome to Ravnet New York! The newest way to bring jews together as a community. Our features are small, but growing. Here is a list of what we currently offer:
The MAIL feature allows you to send and receive email!
The SEARCH feature allows you to search our data archive of Jewish News, events, and members!
Everyone needs a laugh! Check out our JOKE feature for the best in Jewish Jokes.
On behalf of myself and the entire ravnet team, thank you for joining and making our community stronger.
quote:
FROM lschwartz@cheepmail.com: Shocked
quote:
FROM tomo@undisclosedemail: special offer
For your network protection needs contact Tomo.
Spam be damned.
quote:
FROM jbrooks@hotmail.com: What happened?
Rabbi Stone,
I'm sorry, but my family and I can't attend your services any longer.
Your last few sermons have upset the children so much that it took several hours to calm them down.
What happened to you?
- Jeremy Brooks
quote:
FROM sapple@vaco.net: disappointed
Rabbi Stone:
I've tried to have faith in you, but it's obvious that you are becoming increasingly more unbalanced.
You call yourself a Jew? Our people need LEADERS.
Regretfully,
Sara Applebaum
Our Rabbi isn't cheerful enough for the congregation, it seems. Not cheerful enough to call himself a Jew, even. And that's only one of his problems.
quote:
FROM manager@electric.com: final notice
Bills are another.
quote:
FROM don@BankofNY.com: overdraft notice
Unpopular and penniless. Can you get lower than that?
So much for the mail.
There's also the Judaic counterpart of Google, but we don't have anything in particular to search for at the moment.
So what do we do now? Have a chat with the cantor maybe?
What was that all about?Brush-off response
> Truthful response
Rabbinical response
No need to go all rabbinical on the poor lad.
The detective had some questions for me. That's all.
Josh. What did I tell you about listening at my door? I wasn't, Rabbi. Honest! You were just... very loud.
Hmph. So who was killed? Was it that Lauder guy?
Do YOU think so? Yeah. Who else could it be? ... I heard you talking about him. Hmph.
We must have talked VERY loud. Well. Yeah. So who is he? An old member of this congregation. Ah. That's too bad. Yeah, well. It happens to the best of us.
During the shivah, anyone can pay a shivah call. Rabbi Stone could take advantage of that to enter Jack Lauder's house.
I don't think there will be a shivah, Josh. Why?
But weren't we told Jack Lauder was a member of this congregation?..
... Just forget it. All right, if that's what you want. I guess I'll go now. Yeah. Good night, Cantor. Night, Rabbi.Kaplan leaves, and the Rabbi goes back to his office.
Less than twenty minutes ago, I had accepted defeat.
The bank was going to foreclose on the property, and there was nothing I could do.
The B'nai Ben-Zion synagogue could remain open.
I wouldn't have to see my life's work turned into a shopping mall, or a parking lot.
The age-old question.
What is the work of God, and what is the work of man?
The money was a boon, there was no doubt about that.
But it was blood money. And I couldn't believe God would work that way.
I don't like it.
Why, Jack? Why me? Why NOW?
And I had done absolutely nothing to get this money.
I didn't trust it.
Suddenly, the Cantor's words came back to me.
I can't just barge in unannounced. But I CAN pay a shivah call... It's the only way.To pay a shivah call, we need Jack Lauder's address first. Let's see if we can RavGoogle it.
We type in "Lauder".
Two results only. Good thing this particular search engine is, well, streamlined to be user-friendly.
quote:
Garment district murder
Jack Lauder, of Beth Tikvah, was found dead last night in his midtown office. Victim of an apparent assault by person or persons unknown. We at Ravnet express our sympathies to Jack's friends and family.
Beth Tikvah must be the synagogue Lauder belonged to. The congregation to which he escaped after having left Rabbi Stone's for some reason. Duly noted.
quote:
Jack Lauder: Contact Information
All right, to 100 Jane Street we go.
Time to pay that shivah call.