Hasidim Potok's The Chosen: An Analysis

How does Judaism contain such drastically contrasting Jews? Just as many religions include people who sincerely follow their religion along with those who slack a bit, Judaism contributes in both these ways. Reb Saunders, the praiseworthy, tziddik, or leader of his Jewish community, comes from a Hasidic background. Hasidim reflects extremely legalistic Jews. Clever and unique Danny, the eldest son of Reb owns a photographic memory and because of tradition he inherits his father position as tzaddik when Reb wants to hand it off to Danny. Contrarily, Mr. Malter, the father of Danny's friend, Reuven, comes from a laid back sect of Judaism. Despite his liberalism in comparison to Hasidism, Mr. Malter exhibits a quality of insightful and scholarly understanding which makes him looked up to especially by his son. Possessing remarkable intellect, Reb Saunders, his son Danny, and Mr. Malter display their various kinds of knowledge in The Chosen by Chaim Potok.

(respected, admirable, appreciated, honored, valued)

By family inheritance, Reb Saunders acquires the position of tzaddik in his community, a righteous one, and obtains
Born with a photographic memory, he cannot help but consume information he finds particularly in books, because of his prodigious brain capacity. Yet, the issue that lies involves how Danny's religion – Hasidic Judism – denies the right to access some of the world's particular material because Reb Saunders explains it to contain contamination. Instead, reading and studying the Talmud is the major book he should have knowledge of. His mind like an abating fire, craving to be stoked. In fact, Danny states how he feeds his intense desire for knowledge by telling Mr. Malter's son, “I read a lot,” he said. “I read about seven or eight books a week outside of my schoolwork” (79). Through secret escapades, Danny ingests incredible doses of information because of his extraordinary