The Chosen By Chaim Potok: Summary

The book I read, “The Chosen” by Chaim Potok, tells an inspiring story about two young Jewish boys who live in Brooklyn, NY amidst the end of World War II. During this difficult time, a friendly softball league between the Jewish schools is created as an effort to lift the spirits of the school children. The narrator, Reuven Malter, begins the book by telling the story of when his Orthodox Jewish team played a Hasidic Jewish team from five blocks over. This game changed Reuven’s life forever because on this day, through fate, he met his best friend Danny Saunders. Reuven and Danny, although both Jewish, have very different religious practices. Reuven is brought up to learn about the importance of both Jewish and secular studies, however, Danny is …show more content…
The Chosen is a coming of age story exploring the unusual friendship between Reuven and Danny, and the ethical decisions they must make over the years. I will use the start of Reuven and Danny’s friendship, the internal struggle Danny must overcome, and the confrontation between the boys’ fathers to connect the main ideas I have learned about ethics with this book. The first ethical decision I will focus on is Reuven’s decision to become friends with Danny. Reuven and Danny would have never met if it were not for Danny hitting a line drive right towards Reuven’s face, smashing Reuven’s glasses and sending him to the hospital. Danny came to the hospital to ask Reuven for forgiveness, however Reuven rudely asked him to leave. I think this is a situation that many people must deal with because it is much easier to stay resentful then to forgive someone. In a moment of anger, most