The Chosen-Journal On Second Half Of Book
The issue of whether or not the Jews should be given a state is
very controversial all over the world after the end of World War II.
Some Jews, such as Reuven and his father, believe that because of
the Holocaust, it is absolutely necessary that the Jews be given a
state, for their own safety. It would put an end to all the
suffering and persecution that Jews have been through ever since
the beginning of time. But when Reuven states his opinion to
Danny's father, Reb Saunders, he becomes outraged and starts
yelling at Reuven. The Hasids believed that Israel was the
Promised Land, and that they should wait for God to give it to
them instead of taking it. "My father blinked his eyes. 'Reb
Saunders said it was God's will,' he echoed softly. I nodded.
'You are satisfied with that answer, Reuven?' 'No.' He
blinked his eyes again, and when he spoke, his voice was
soft, the bitterness gone. 'I am not satisfied with it
either Reuven. We cannot wait for God. If there is an
answer, we must make it ourselves.' I was quiet."
(Potok, 192). I deeply agree with Reuven and his father.
God is the ruler of the universe, so if he were against the
Jews taking the Promised Land, he would stop it from
happening. Reb Saunders insists that the Holocaust was
the will of God. If that is true, wouldn't it also be
the will of God if the Jews take the promised land? It
is surprising that Danny's father belives so many events
to be because of the will of God, but insists that the
Jews taking the Promised Land is against it.
At the beginning of the story, Danny is very religious and Reuven
is more conservative. But at the end of the book, it seems like
they have switched roles. Reuven is studying to be a rabbi, and
Danny will become a psychologist. I think that it started when
Reuven's father got sick and he had to stay at Danny's house.
"On the first day of July, I packed a bag and took a cab to Reb
Saunder's house. I moved into Danny's room." (193). They both
begin to really understand how the other lives and worships, and
they find it interesting.