Reb Saunders Relationship Analysis

In his book The Promise Chaim Potok leads the reader on a heartbreaking journey full of spiritual conflict and decision. As a sequel to The Chosen, The Promise picks up with Reuven Malter, the main character and a Jewish man now in his mid-twenties, attending Hirsch University, a Jewish seminary in Brooklyn, New York. Reuven keeps his friendship with Danny Saunders, whom he met on a baseball field during his teenage years and later went to college with, even though they now go their separate ways as Reuven becomes a rabbi, and Danny practices psychology. During the summer Reuven dates Rachel Gordon, the niece of Abraham Gordon, a man excommunicated from the Jewish society, and meets Abraham’s son, Michael, a stubborn teen with a mental issue. Also, over the same summer Reuven’s father, David Malter, wrote a controversial book about the Talmud. These people along with Reuven’s ranting teacher, Rav Kalman, form the intricate web of conflicts and friendships in The Promise.

Firstly, it is not often that you see a man show emotion, let alone your own father. In the book,

One of the first words children learn to say is “daddy.” This is one of the earliest signs that fathers play extremely large and important roles in their children’s lives. Part of the father’s role that can make or break the relationship with his child is the expression of fatherly love. Reuben Land of Peace like a River receives a constant stream of affection from his dad Jeremiah. In fact, the righteous Jeremiah Land is a near-perfect example of pure, fatherly love and even more so an example of God’s love for His children. Jeremiah isn’t just a tender father to Reuben; he treats his other children Swede and Davy with the same passion he shows Reuben. No matter the trouble the children get into nor the mistakes they make, Jeremiah is always

Friendship is a wonderful yet confusing thing. This concept is brilliantly displayed in Chaim Potok’s The Chosen. In the book, the main character, Reuven, and Danny Saunders become friends through an interesting turn of events during a baseball game, the short version being that Danny ended up putting Reuven in the hospital with a baseball in the eye. After Reuven gets over some feelings of bitterness towards Danny, the two grow to be great friends. There are many difficulties when it comes to friendship, but the beauty of a good friendship is that good friends can power through them.

Reuven’s father teaches his son that there is much in the world to understand, between all peoples. When David brings his son a radio while he is in the hospital, he tells his son that, “The radio brought the world together” (Potok 52). And because of this, he refers to it as a blessing. His father is not one to accept things as they are and believe that it is purely by the word of God. After all, David Malter is a teacher. He uses scientific criticism to observe God’s Commandments (135). His father also makes Reuven aware of pain he can cause someone, and instead of reprimanding him he allows the words of the Talmud to guide him. David Malter refers to the Talmud in

Chaim Potok’s The Chosen is a book that is not characterized by its suspenseful plots nor rich dialogue; instead, it conveys powerful the powerful themes are friendship and self-identity through subtle interactions between characters and by intertwining events in history to further develop the story (Chosen). The Chosen explores the unlikely friendship between two Jewish boys: Reuven Malter and Danny Saunders. Reuven is an Orthodox Jew raised by his scholarly father and writer, David Malter. He has a very warm relationship with his father. This is contrasted by Danny's strained relationship with his father, Rabbi Isaac Saunders, also known as Reb Saunders, who is a stubborn and intolerant leader of his congregation of Hasidic Jews. Due to Danny's lack of compassion and empathy at young age, Reb Saunders decides to raise Danny in silence so he could hear the struggles and perils in the world. Having compassion is essential for Danny because he is to inherit his father’s position as a

Abraham Lincoln said, “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” A person’s character defines them. In Chaim Potok’s book The Chosen, the reader gains an understanding of the character qualities of Reuven Malter. Reuven proves himself a kindhearted young man through his behavior towards Danny Saunders as well as many others. Throughout the book, Reuven displays forgiveness, intelligence, and determination through adversity.

It starts with a baseball game, a flying baseball and a nearly blinded eye. That is how The Chosen by Chaim Potok starts. Throughout his wonderful book there are many themes that are tied through the book, Religion, Friendship, but most important of all is the theme of the eye. From literally seeing to the figurative eye, Potok ties the eye wonderfully throughout the entire book, making it a wonderful book to read from young to old.

In the realistic fiction novel The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, two boys make their transition into adulthood. In the beginning of the novel, Reuven, a Modern Orthodox Jew and Danny, a Chasidic Jew barely know each other, but start to after Danny hits Reuven with a baseball. After this, Reuven makes friends with Danny and they spend much time together. Danny wants to become a psychologist, against his father's wishes, and Reuven helps him achieve that. Their father's, David Malter and Reb Saunders often give insights into the pasts of Danny and Reuven. David Malter is an imperative character in the development of Danny and Reuven's friendship, allowing them to follow in their own paths

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” The author of this quote, Michelangelo, explains how many can achieve a goal almost effortlessly, but few actually try to achieve something that requires toilsome work. Such work that is not always successful, but when it is, the result is superior compared to an insufficient effort. The extraordinary man who wrote this quote achieved greatness by striving for excellence. Michelangelo Buonarroti is easily understood by others, even though he has surpassed the average expectations. In the novel “The Chosen” written by Chaim Potok, a main character named Mr.Malter claims that “great men are difficult to understand.” Mr.

In Chaim Potok’s book, The Chosen, blindness is a reoccurring theme throughout the book. The first example of blindness is Danny and Reuven live within five blocks from each other for fifteen years and have no idea that the other person exists. Because the boys have such a different culture, they live in their own world and are blind to each other. When they meet at the baseball field they judge each other based on rumors they have heard or by the actions of the team. Reuven thinks of them as the “whole snooty bunch of Hasidim” (Chosen 62).

He finds his dignity and tells Mr. Lindner that his “son said we was going to move and there ain't nothin left for me to say.” (Hansberry 575). At this point the full depth of his character development is obvious; one can see that he finally turned into a respectable man that cares about his family and their pride.

The words we don't say can speak louder than the words we scream. Silence is a powerful force that has the capability to alter people's lives, and the words we speak have becomes unrecognizable in the eyes of people. Within The Chosen, silence is a main theme that is touched upon throughout the book. Comprehending silence can be strenuous because it is not accustomed to our society, but the silence could also have the opportunity to speak to us. Silence can overcome any words given. In The Chosen, Danny has an unusual relationship with his father, Reb. Reb does not speak with Danny about anything that is not related to his studies. Throughout the book, Danny has bitter feelings towards his father, and he feels disconnected with him. A large amount of the story shows how Danny feels conflicted with his feelings. The silence is a time to listen to everything around

I find the relationship between Danny and his father very interesting. His parents are divorced so he doesn’t see his dad very often, but if

Differences between people often cause resentment and anger. In chapter one of Chaim Potok’s novel “The Chosen” the main character, Reuven, is confronted with an unfamiliar Hasidic baseball team. Potok uses Reuven’s first person point of view to reveal Reuven’s conflicting emotions towards Danny and his baseball team.