Reuven: Summary And Analysis

When issues arise over establishing a modern Jewish state, Reuven learns to be open minded and gains a new perspective on religion and tradition through his understanding of Danny. While Reuven’s father is in the hospital, he begins to study the Talmud on his own and develops a depth into multiple outlooks of scripture. Rev Gershenson’s class has become a way for Reuven to connect with Danny amongst their silence and understand his friend’s stance during the Jewish state conflict. Much like their friendship, Reuven learns to look at scripture beyond appearance and initial impressions and search for multiple points of view and interpretations of these traditions. While Reuven is preparing for class he “would study it carefully, memorize it, …show more content…
As Reb Saunders confesses that silence is intended for compassion and teaching his son how to feel the suffering of his people in the world. Reuven come to understand that Reb Saunders intent for his son is well in that it kept him away from becoming a rabbi. Although he does not agree, Reuven comes to acknowledge the reasons for Danny and his father’s relationship. He is able to connect with Reb Saunders in a way of sympathy and knowledge of different perspectives and reasoning. Reuven relates to Danny following his father’s departure and “then I was crying too, crying with Danny, silently, for his pain and for the years of suffering, knowing that I loved him” (282). Reuven has a break through and relates to Danny’s new knowledge of his father through their friendship. With Reuven’s new perspective on Reb Saunder in light of his background and past, he learns through his new fair minded attitude that the way people or situations look are not always what they seem. He discovers there is meaning and purpose to all beliefs in life and when we find them man can come to understand the diversity of his