Set against the volatile backdrop of 1290, when the twilight of the Crusader states gave way to the rising power of the Mamluks, The Rabbi’s Knight delivers a richly detailed historical adventure. The novel immerses the reader in the final, desperate days of the Holy Land, exploring themes of faith, conflict, and the enduring quest for a common good. This is a must-read for fans of historical fiction who appreciate the religious and political, especially those surrounding the Crusades.

The story centers on one of the most compelling odd couples in historical fiction: Jonathan St. Clair, a Knight Templar seeking esoteric wisdom, and Rabbi Samuel ben Daniel ha-Kohen, a master of Kabbalah. St. Clair pursues the Rabbi in Safed, believing the scholar holds the key to deciphering a crucial inscription. Their burgeoning partnership, however, is immediately threatened by treachery from all sides—the Mamluk emir’s guards and the internal religious dissent embodied by Rabbi Solomon Petit in Acre. The initial, violent flight from Safed, followed by the tragic burial of Samuel’s disciples, establishes a high-stakes pace that rarely lets up.

The journey to Jerusalem is fraught with intrigue and spiritual exploration. While the Rabbi and St. Clair narrowly escape the emir's early betrayal, their companions, Isaac and Wallace, execute a crucial interception in Acre, reclaiming a scroll containing sensitive defense secrets. The novel shines as St. Clair and Rabbi Samuel, traveling in disguise, delve into the deeper meanings of the Torah and Kabbalah, illuminating the narrative's central message: the interconnectedness of all peoples and the divine order of the universe.

The novel builds to a dramatic and heart-wrenching climax within the holy city. Working with al-Hasani, the group uses St. Clair’s scroll to identify the Tomb of Zechariah as a hidden portal into the Temple Mount. As the emir’s guards close in, the ailing Rabbi Samuel makes the ultimate sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane, to draw the enemy away. The conclusion is both tragic and unifying. St. Clair, now forever changed by Samuel’s teachings, returns to Acre to face the inevitable siege, standing with his companion Zahirah. Their final, united stand against the Mamluks provides a strong, if somber, testament to the enduring spiritual truths they uncovered, cementing the novel as more than just a war story—it’s a testament to shared humanity.