The Chosen

1. The Chosen Bildungsroman A novel that traces the intellectual, moral, and psychological growth of the young protagonist(s)

2. Parallels • Importance of parallels in a novel: • Every person, object, etc. are connected with something/one else. There can be no growth, development, progress without an awareness of these connections. • Two main characters • Reuven and Danny • Fathers • David Malter and Reb Saunders • Abstract concepts • Silence and Blindness • Homes • Events

3. David Malter and Reb Saunders • Fathers • Fundamentally different beliefs • Religious Tolerance • Raising of their children

4. Danny and Reuven • Hasidic Judaism and American-influenced Judaism • Knowledge • Danny introduces his broad and rigorous method of analyzing Talmud • Reuven teaches Danny patience and open-mindedness.

5. Abstract Parallels • Reuven’s near-blindness and Danny’s silence • Similarity between Danny’s and Reuven’s homes • David Malter’s heart attack and FDR’s death

6. Jacques Lacan • French psychoanalyst • Student of Freud • Theory – “mirror stage” • Crucial stage in human development; as infants, we first see ourselves in a mirror. This marks the first time in our lives, when our inner self is associated with an external image of ourselves. • We now begin to develop a sense of our own identity. We need external images, reflections of ourselves, to define our sense of who we are. • The complements and contrasts n the world are mirrors that the characters use to develop their sense of the world and themselves.

7. Silence • First title “A Time for Silence” • Used as a major theme • Silence, like communication, can help people better understand each other. • Frightening, confusing, warm, and welcome • Leads to introspection • Allows the characters’ humanity, spirituality, and empathy for others to grow.

8. Tradition vs. Modernity • Hasidic tradition conflicting with American secular modernity • Traditional Jewish values and modern American mores • No interaction with the outside communities of America. Stays within the boundaries of Brooklyn, New York. • Conflict is between the two Jewish philosophies. • Reb Saunders’s isolationist fanaticism and David Malter’s more open-minded awareness of the world around him. • Malter’s activism and scientific approach to Talmudic study represents the modern American Jew. He is able to blend a traditional sense of devotion and spirituality with a commitment to the larger world around him.

9. Choosing vs. Being Chosen • Jews are the “Chosen people”; set apart from the rest of the world in terms of their obligation to God. • None of the characters have “chosen” to be Jewish; it has been chosen for them by their birth. All characters love his religion, do not resent it, but struggle with what it means to be “chosen”. • Reb Saunders: one must accept a special set of obligations to study the Torah and serve God. • David Malter: intellectual and spiritual obligation to fill one’s life with meaning. • Reuven: a joyful commitment to religious tradition and intellectual engagement. • Danny: carrying a difficult burden at the same time as it means respecting a proud intellectual tradition. • All characters struggle with the tension between accepting what has been chosen and choosing one’s own path.

10. Danny and Reuven • Conflict: Jewish religion • Danny is Hasidic; Reuven is Orthodox • Parallels WW II • Boys’ relationship to the larger world around them • Mr. Galanter • Military metaphors shows relationship between the game and the war. • Boys perception of the game – battle of epic proportions

11. Isolationism • Separation from mainstream American life • Softball – not baseball • Played on the blacktop, not on grass • Uniforms: skullcaps • Conflict with each other, but together in their isolation from the outside world • As Jews, both must accept religious commitments and responsibilities • All-Jewish softball teams – both share a culture that is struggling to find its place in America

12. Suffering • Theme of suffering found in Jewish tradition and literature. • Mr. Savo and Billy Merrit • One eye removed; operation unsuccessful • Needless, random suffering – basic, constant aspect of human existence • Reuven tries to reconcile the idea of God allowing this suffering to happen • Foreshadows the struggle for all Jews after the discovery of the Holocaust • Danny’s relationship with Reuven begins as a result of pain that he inflicted on Reuven. • Reuven’s near blindness brings a new appreciation for his life and has sharpened his perception of the world around him. • Theme of vision • Reuven’s vision and perception of the world are threatened when his eye is injured. Sight is an important means of connection to the outside world. • Bible: Darkness = hopelessness; a world without God • Reuven loves to read; blindness would create a hopeless future

13. Reuven’s Near Blindness • His understanding of the world around him is altered. Foreshadows his change in opinion of Danny. As he learns to see again, he begins to really “see” Danny, and the world around him. • Two levels of vision • Physical ability to learn, pray, and interact with others • Abstract ability to understand/judge others • Listens to Danny; learns aspects of him that he would not have known/believed with sight alone.

14. Reuven and His Father • Mutual love and concern • Talk and communicate well; respect each other’s opinions, feelings, thoughts. • Father impresses upon Reuven the importance of his religion AND his obligation to care about the outside world. (Radio)

15. Significance of WW II • Reuven and Danny • Reaction to reality of the Holocaust • Although their religious beliefs are in conflict; this reality creates an inseparable bond between them. • They are forced the examine the relationship between tradition and modernity (progressiveness). • Forces them to truly communicate • Similarities surprise them • Competitive • Fanatical intellectual passion • Danny does not fit Reuven’s stereotypes about Hasids • Speaks English without a Hasidic accent

16. Individual Relationship With Their Fathers • Danny – Intellectual – Psychologist • Pressured by father to follow in his footsteps as a rabbi. No choice. • Dominating father – intense daily Talmud study; strong feelings against the apikorsim; refusal to write or speak to his son. • Reuven – Rabbi • Pressured by father to be an intellectual – teacher • Open and easy relationship – mutual concern and respect.

17. Danny and Reuven’s Intellectual Similarities • Deep commitment to and respect for Jewish tradition. • Both taught by David Malter • Danny – science and humanities • Reuven – mathematics • Great desire for knowledge • Each will teach and be taught by the other

18. Father-Son Relationship • Reuven’s father speaks to Reuven freely about all subjects • Reb Saunders only discusses Jewish law and custom. Restricts Danny’s education to Hasidic customs and precepts; showing a narrow-minded and limited view of the world. • Reb Saunders’ silence – appears cruel; cold; distant.

19. Reuven’s Home • Jewish culture strong • Food • Portraits of Zionists on walls • Intellectualism and current events • War maps • Picture of Albert Einstein • Book-lined study • Love of learning and commitment to connecting to the world beyond the boundaries of strict Jewish tradition • Belief that no single Jewish tradition exists. Many different systems of belief are a part of the whole. Groups bitterly opposed to one anothre regarding heritage, history, and belief

20. Religious Worship • David Malter • Open and intimate with Reuven; prays silently and fervently; apartment has litany of pictures and maps showing a commitment to and respect for earthly concerns. • Devoutly committed to religion; profound knowledge of Jewish law • Supports Reb Saunder’s public quizzes • Reb Saunders • Speaks furiously and demagogically about religion • Preaches that the world is contaminated and implies that devout believers must remove themselves from all earthly concerns • Belief in a dichotomy between the outside world and Jewish tradition • Jews, by virtue of their birth, must bear unique burden that give privilege as well as obligation; they have a sense of entitlement

21. Danny’s Home • Layout • Very similar to Reuven’s home • Communication • Silence • Reuven becomes a go-between for Danny and his father. • Discussion about Danny’s visits to the library • Father already knows • Breaking of the silence undermines Reb Saunders’ practice of silence toward his son

22. Spider and the Fly • Trapped fly = cruelty and suffering that are unavoidable in the world • Reuven’s freeing of the fly= his desire to alleviate suffering • Consequences = hurting the spider • We are all connected; good can create harm

23. Danny’s Future • Danny’s study of the Talmud equips him with tools to understand Freud. Reb Saunders did not realize what he had given Danny. • Uses methods learned from his religious study to learn material that goes against his faith. • Creates life-changing conflict

24. Tragedy • Personal vs. Historical • Levi’s illness = German offensive • Danny sick with the flu = War in Europe intensifies • Reuven’s fever = FDR’s death • David Malter and Reb Saunders illness • David Malter’s heart attack = reality of concentration camps • Concentration camps news • Reuven and others begin to question faith and religion • Reb Saunders says “God’s will” Wait for the Messiah; keep with tradition • Malter – Do not wait any longer; fight for a Jewish state; question tradition

25. Tradition vs. Modernity • Danny’s conflict • Hirsch’s psychology department causes conflict between his upbringing and modern intellectualism he wants to study. His way of breaking away from tradition; needed his traditional study to understand Freud • Focused on theory and commentary; ill prepared for scientific analysis and experimentation. • Reuven’s conflict • Belief in open verbal communication • Silence = loneliness, lack of communication, elimination of learning • “bizarre silence” • Must endure his father’s illness alone • Vision is a two-way street of giving and receiving • Reb Saunders’ conflict • Even after Holocaust, continue to observe scripture and wait for the Messiah • Anti-Zionism belief causes prohibition of Danny seeing/talking to Reuven • David Malter’s conflict • Holocaust must bring about modern Jewish state • Fanaticism for Zionism; State of Israel • Affects his health; heart attack

26. Reuven • Alone • Father = heart attack • Danny and Reb Saunders = No verbal communication. Relationship totally void • Reuven and Danny meet each other’s eyes • Wordless interactions are meaningless • Irony = this silence brings about Reuven’s most proficient learning • Silence and speech is not a black and white as he once thought • Rav Gershenson • Substitute for all three • Talmud teacher = Reb Saunders • Uses silence as a tool of instruction • Gentle, not harsh tool to show student’s lack of knowledge

27. Connecting with Danny • Rev Gershenson’s class • Substitute for Danny • Danny has given Reuven a new perspective on an unfamiliar world (cultural/religious); similar, yet different from his own comfort zone. • Broadens Reuven’s worldview; multiple viewpoints. • Analysis: learned depth from his father • Several different perspectives from Danny • Methodology from Reb Saunders • From friendship with Danny, Reuven learned to look beyond superficial appearances, doubt initial impressions, search for multiple ways of looking at a situation

28. Danny and Reuven • Relationship renewed • Creation of State of Israel • Collapse of the tension over Zionism at Hirsch • death of a Hirsch allumnus • Tradition and Modernity will always be connected through historical events that affect all Jews

29. Silence • Reuven now imposes silence on Reb Saunders • Refuses to listen to him; does not come over for Shabbat • David Malter imposes silence on Reuven • Refuses to explain Reb Saunders’ behavior • Father’s “eyes were dark” • Denying Reuven information – clouding his son’s vision; imposing darkness and lack of perspective on Reuven • David Malter’s internal state • Silence has more than one purpose

30. Silence • Mysterious to the reader • Empathy for Danny and Reuven • Relationship between silence and communication • Danny hears silence = silence is a way of communicating • Reuven’s refusal to see Reb Saunders prevents Sanders from communicating with Danny • Danny speaks to David Malter with Reuven • Breaks the father/son connection, foreshadows the crucial change in the climax

31. Conflict Resolved • Danny and his father • Reb Saunders does not object to Danny not becoming a rabbi • Saunders’ silence was not as a punishment • Love; teaches Danny to find “his soul” • Cultivate Danny’s emotions and sympathy for others • Have the essence of a tzadik; choose his own life • Danny’s experience with silence parallels Reuven’s experience with near blindness • Reuven had to re-evaluate and strengthen his understanding of the world. Through suffering, gained empathy for others • Danny learned to turn inward, examine his soul, feel empathy for others, feel suffering

32. Themes • Perception • 10/18 refer to sight/listening • Ability to see the world, to see oneself, to see beneath the surface and into the heart of the matter • Allows them to relate to and empathize with others’ suffering • Danny learns to be a better listener; appreciates the words. • Reuven improves command of is senses and language • Suffering • Reuven – eyes; Danny – silence from father • World suffers – WWII; Holocaust • Reuven and Danny become more empathetic, humble, sense of responsibility • Eyes/Eyeglasses • Vision in the literal sense and figurative sense • Danny develops an increased awareness of the world beyond his Hasidic community; his eyesight suffers – begins to wear glasses • Importance of perception • The Talmud • Jewish Bible • No mention of the Kabbalah • Challenge the text; resolve conflicting points; actively engaging tradition and pursuing knowledge in order to attain a unique and personal interpretation of Judaism and the world in general