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Monday, November 23, 2009

Book Review: The Chosen by Chaim Potok

For those who were wondering what happened to my blog over the last few days (I only managed to spam you with a few Kol Isha postings): I was reading The Chosen from Chaim Potok and just couldn’t put it down!

Potok (1929-2002) was an eloquent and prolific writer. He managed to capture my imagination throughout all of the book’s 280 or so pages and I can’t wait to buy and read some more of his books!

I vaguely remember having seen the movie when I was young. However, it is different in some points to the original. I recall wondering why on earth a Rebbe would play chess with his son! I guess this comes closest to the Talmudic conversations between father and son, because the average viewer would not understand it. Also, I remember finding Danny’s sister really pretty and that romance was an important part of the movie.

There were some points that may be different in real life for some:

  • A chossid in Williamsburg called Danny? Perhaps Duniel, but more realistic would be Nussi, Yoili or Levi Yitzchok.
  • Danny Saunders playing baseball with ‘apikorsim’ (chas vesholom!).
  • Reuven Malter having conversations with the Rebbetzin and her daughter.
  • The Rebbe coming to terms with his son going for a masters in Psychology, cutting off his peyos and shaving his beard?

To conclude, some points that must’ve been autobiographic for Potok:

  • His parents came from Poland and he received an Orthodox Jewish education; this may have caused considerable friction and a religious crisis.
  • WWII must have played an important role in his hand his parents’ life (he was in his teens at that time); it also did in the book.
  • He received his B.A. from Yeshiva University summa cum laude; an allusion to the ‘Hirsch College’?
  • He became a Conservative Rabbi (Jewish Theological Seminary, where he received his M.A. in Hebrew literature); Danny Saunders also became less orthodox and Reuven Malter learnt Talmud using scientific methods, controversial to Orthodox Judaism.
  • His marriage to a psychiatric social worker (Adena Sara Mosevitzsky) may have given him some inside information about psychology.

I found myself being elated for Danny Saunders for having such a successful transformation, but also for Reuven Malter, as he followed his heart (becoming a Rabbi) and got what he wanted. Except for Danny’s sister, of course ;)

5 comments:

  1. Oh, you are lucky if you haven't yet read his other books! Go get them and read them all -- they're fantastic. My Name is Asher Lev is probably the next best.

    I've written a lot about Potok on my blog.

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  2. Hi JA,

    I knew that you have some interesting stuff on your blog, but I definitely missed this article. Thanks!

    UK

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  3. It's over 4 years old! Crazy how long I've been at this. ;-)

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  4. I couldn't put The Chosen down either. I read it a few years ago and have yet to read another one of his books, but My Name is Asher Lev is currently next up on my reading list. OTD also recommended it to me, so it seems like a popular one...

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  5. My Name is Asher Lev is my favorite, better than The Chosen.

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