“One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood” (Lucius Annaeus Seneca). Beautiful friendship can only be received if there is understanding between each person. The Chosen, by Chaim Potok, is about two Jewish boys living in Brooklyn, New York, towards the end of World War II era. A disagreement between two contradicting viewpoints of the same religion about the Jewish homeland and tradition is what causes a stir of emotion that becomes the basis of the novel. Nonetheless, friendship arises from these very disagreements. Fate initially kindles that relation; however, the friendship was only cemented and kept intact after religion was mentioned. Religion was the basis of all other themes.
From the bat (no pun intended), a baseball game arises …show more content…
Unknowingly his father Reb Saunders tests him in a game of gemetria. He is then approved of his friendship. Reb Saunders although hesitant allows them to be friends saying, “I worry myself… especially if such a friend is the son of David Malter. Ah! WHat he writes. Criticism. Scientific criticism” (141). Knowing that Reuven’s father has questionable thoughts in his writing he believes that Reuven does follow the Commandments just as his father observes them. Furthermore, the gemetria was the proving grounds for Reb Saunders to acknowledge his son’s friend. Religion again causes this relation to follow through. Thus, Reb Saunders allows them to be friends through the power of his religion. Religion was the anchor point for the friendship to begin. From this game, Reb Saunders gained some information from the son of David Malter and what he believes in a different viewpoint of the same faith. He finds that he is just as religious as his father and that he truly knows the Jewish faith. Reb Saunders believes that they could learn more religion from each other even if they have different viewpoints on the Jewish
From the bat (no pun intended), a baseball game arises …show more content…
Unknowingly his father Reb Saunders tests him in a game of gemetria. He is then approved of his friendship. Reb Saunders although hesitant allows them to be friends saying, “I worry myself… especially if such a friend is the son of David Malter. Ah! WHat he writes. Criticism. Scientific criticism” (141). Knowing that Reuven’s father has questionable thoughts in his writing he believes that Reuven does follow the Commandments just as his father observes them. Furthermore, the gemetria was the proving grounds for Reb Saunders to acknowledge his son’s friend. Religion again causes this relation to follow through. Thus, Reb Saunders allows them to be friends through the power of his religion. Religion was the anchor point for the friendship to begin. From this game, Reb Saunders gained some information from the son of David Malter and what he believes in a different viewpoint of the same faith. He finds that he is just as religious as his father and that he truly knows the Jewish faith. Reb Saunders believes that they could learn more religion from each other even if they have different viewpoints on the Jewish