Summary Of The Chosen By Chaim Potok

In Chaim Potok’s novel, The Chosen, Reb Saunders, who is Danny’s father, is a very interesting and wise man. His techniques and beliefs for raising his son is strange and unorthodox but it is what he believes will help grow his son’s soul. He is not your typical father and being Jewish plays a role in his decisions. In the book we see how his actions are used and end with fruitful results. Reb Saunders grew up in a “small town in southern Russia” and was raised in the Jewish Orthodox customs. (P.117) He was raised just like he raises Danny and became a Tzaddik like his father did before him. After becoming the Tzaddik there, he led his people to America to escape the persecution which the Jewish population received during that time. The community he led was very strict in staying with the ancient traditions which have been passed down from generation to generation. They are very isolated and stay away from most modern living

This approach seems harsh and unnecessary but Reb wants his son to be able to look inside his soul for the answers and deeply think about his decisions. This method is used to help raise Danny to become a great Tzaddik and take his father’s place. Reb is so true to this approach that he even asks Reuven, who is Danny’s best friend, why “Daniel (Danny) spends hours almost every day in the public library” and is curious of what “he reads” instead of asking his son directly. (P.165) Danny is a genius and is anxious to gather as much information as possible. He loves to read difficult and advanced literature and mathematical texts. Reb Saunders is concerned with this due to the fact that he wants his son to be enriched with only religious texts and knowledge that will help with his growth to become a Tzaddik. The interest Danny has gives Reb a deep concern with his son’s