Joseph Telushkin

Joseph Telushkin (born 1948, Brooklyn, NY) - a prominent American Modern Orthodox rabbi, lecturer, and author known for his extensive work (16 books and counting) on Jewish ethics, history, and theology. He also authored four mystery novels, including a trilogy featuring Rabbi Daniel Winter. In The Unorthodox Murder of Rabbi Wahl, Winter becomes a suspect in the death of a radical feminist rabbi.In The Final Analysis of Dr. Stark (1988), Winter investigates the brutal murder of a prominent psychiatrist whose list of patients included many elite L.A. citizens. His An Eye for an Eye (1990) later served as the basis for multiple episodes of the Emmy-winning TV series The Practice. Heaven’s Witness (2004), co-authored with Allen Estrin, is a paranormal thriller centering on a psychiatrist and a patient whose memories under hypnosis lead to a decades-old disappearance. 

Telushkin uses Rabbi Daniel Winter to explore how ancient laws apply to modern crimes. Key themes include: 

• Vigilante Justice vs. Morality: In An Eye for an Eye, a father kills his daughter’s murderer after a light sentence is handed down. Winter must navigate the tension between a killing that is legally wrong but arguably moral.
• Legal “Flaws”: The novels explore fascinating legal quirks, such as the Talmudic rule that a unanimous guilty verdict from a jury might be invalid because it suggests a lack of defense or deep suspicion.
• Social & Religious Issues: His stories touch on controversial topics including Jewish views on abortion, homosexuality, and the nuances of the death penalty.
• Personal Integrity: Beyond the crime, Winter provides lessons on judging others fairly, the ethics of speech, and managing human impulses like envy and revenge.   [Google/AI]

Telushkin, Joseph, [Rabbi Daniel Winter] (The Unorthodox Murder of Rabbi Wahl [pb, Toby Press, 2005] 978-1592641079 [Originally published as: The Unorthodox Murder of Rabbi Moss - [pb, Collins Crime, 1988] 978-0006176268

Telushkin, Joseph, [Rabbi Daniel Winter] (The Final Analysis of Dr. Stark [hc, Collins Crime Club, 1988]) 978-0002314947 [pb, Toby Press, 2005] 978-1592641086

Telushkin, Joseph, [Rabbi Daniel Winter] (Eye for an Eye [hc, Doubleday, 1991] 978-0385421164 [pb, Toby Press, 2006] 978-1592641093)

Telushkin, Joseph & Allen Estrin, (Heaven’s Witness [hc, Toby Press, 2004] 978-1592640911