Throughout History, some of the greatest stories and tales have an underlying theme of friendship. Chaim Potok’s book, The Chosen, is one of these books. During this time period, two groups known as the Orthodox Jews and the Hasidic Jews disagree with each other on most things. However, this fact does not prevent the two main characters Reuven Malter, an Orthodox Jew, and Danny Saunders, a Hasidic Jew, from becoming friends. In Danny Saunders’ case, his father, Reb Saunders is the leader of the Hasidic Jews in the area. Reb’s is known as the tsaddik, and he puts lots of pressure on Danny to become the next tsaddik. Friendship in The Chosen includes Danny and Reuven’s, Danny and Reuven’s father, and Reuven and Reb Saunders.
Orthodox and Hasidic …show more content…
To start, when Danny visits Reuven in the Hospital he tells Reuven that he has secretly studied books on psychology in the library, without his father knowing, because he says that the position tsaddik in his religion is an “Inherited position” (Chapter 3 page 69). In addition, Danny tells Reuven that a librarian at the library has given him suggestions as to what to read. Eventually, Reuven figures out the librarian Danny told him about is actually Reuven’s father, David Malter. Throughout the book Danny goes back to the library to study psychology with suggestions from David. The way Danny and David interact shows that The Chosen has an underlying theme of friendship. Lastly, an example of friendship in The Chosen is the friendship between Reuven Malter and Reb Saunders. This friendship starts when Danny introduces Reuven to Reb Saunders. During this time, Reb asks if he could have a private conversation with Reuven. When Reuven asks Danny for an explanation, Danny says that his father, “Always has to approve of my friends” (Chapter 7 page 111). In the private conversation, Reb tells Reuven that he is proud of Danny for making friends with Reuven. Therefore, even the leader of a different ethnic group makes friends with a person part of a different ethnic
Orthodox and Hasidic …show more content…
To start, when Danny visits Reuven in the Hospital he tells Reuven that he has secretly studied books on psychology in the library, without his father knowing, because he says that the position tsaddik in his religion is an “Inherited position” (Chapter 3 page 69). In addition, Danny tells Reuven that a librarian at the library has given him suggestions as to what to read. Eventually, Reuven figures out the librarian Danny told him about is actually Reuven’s father, David Malter. Throughout the book Danny goes back to the library to study psychology with suggestions from David. The way Danny and David interact shows that The Chosen has an underlying theme of friendship. Lastly, an example of friendship in The Chosen is the friendship between Reuven Malter and Reb Saunders. This friendship starts when Danny introduces Reuven to Reb Saunders. During this time, Reb asks if he could have a private conversation with Reuven. When Reuven asks Danny for an explanation, Danny says that his father, “Always has to approve of my friends” (Chapter 7 page 111). In the private conversation, Reb tells Reuven that he is proud of Danny for making friends with Reuven. Therefore, even the leader of a different ethnic group makes friends with a person part of a different ethnic