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Summary Of The Chosen By Chaim Potok

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In Chaim Potok’s novel The Chosen, two boys of different Jewish sects become unlikely friends. Danny Saunders and Reuvan Malter first meet on a softball field, playing on opposing teams. Growing up in secular New York is not easy for a Hasidic Jew, but for Danny it proves challenging. His father has grand plans for Danny to follow in footsteps, to become a rabbi. Danny not only does not want the responsibility of being a leader of his people but he is still searching for what he himself believes. Through all of this Danny exhibits concern for others, intelligence, and submissiveness. Danny shows concern for those around him, even those he might not know very well. When Danny sees hurting people around him, he feels concern for them. When Reuvan is in the hospital, Danny comes to visit him and says, “I’m sorry about what happened (Potok, 60.) Reuvan is in the hospital because Danny felt such hate for him that he hurt him; yet Danny feels bad and feels concern for Reuvan thus he goes to the hospital to see how Reuvan is doing. Reuvan, when Danny is talking about his brother being sick, says “I got the impression that he loved his brother very much.” (141) His brother is …show more content…

Danny has an incredible memory and capacity for knowledge. Reuvan’s father says that he gives Danny a book to read an then he returns two hours later, not only having read it but also having memorized it. Danny has a photographic memory, he glances over a page and remembers everything written on it. When confronted with the problem of interpreting a difficult passage of the Talmud, Danny gives his own interpretation of it and also the interpretation of two other commentators (113). Not only does he have an amazing memory, but Danny also has a very high level of understanding and ability to interpret. Danny has a powerful memory that helps him to learn quickly, and understands many things that normally a boy of his age would not

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