Torn between two worlds

I first read The Chosen in High School. I distinctly remember two thoughts I had about the book. The first is that I was pretty sure I was missing most of the subtleties in the conversations. The second was that I really liked Reuven and Danny. I really felt like I understood and related to them. I don't want to launch into a detailed analysis of Danny and Reuven, and why I relate to them so well, but I do want to focus on a facet of Danny that I understand better this time through the book: the way he is torn between two worlds.

The fact that Danny is torn between his duty to succeed his father and his desire to become a psychologist is not exactly a subtle plot point. Reuven's father says that “Reb Saunder's son is a terribly torn and lonely boy” (pg110). What is interesting, though, is how Danny deals with his dilemma. I don't want to give anything away, so I will simply say that Danny's decision is not made in a single, watershed moment. Instead, his decision is made in small steps; each one taking him a little closer to his final decision.

Although the boys' culture is very different than ours, which could make it very difficult to relate to them, the things they struggle with are things that you and I also struggle with. When I look back on my first half of college, I realize that much of it was filled with a sense of being torn. Not the extreme that Danny dealt with, but sometimes they were difficult. As you enter your college career, you will encounter this, as well. Some will be simpler, like deciding whether to study or watch a movie, and others will be more difficult, like picking a major. You may even have an experience like Danny's. Will you pursue the career your parents want for you, or will you pick what you want to do? These are not easy questions, either for you or for Danny, but they are what makes life what it is, and they are what makes The Chosen such a great book.

Crazy World...Cockeyed

When Reuven was in the hospital, he met a boxer, Mr. Savo, who said in response to the war, that it is a "crazy world...cockeyed." Months later (in chapter 9, 173-174), Reuven recalls these words after he calls the father of the boy who was also next to him in the hospital and finds out that Billy's surgery was not successful-- the boy still cannot see. He had the best surgeon, but still he did not gain his sight. Reuven had the same surgeon, and even his scar tissue healed well.

Reuven wanders out to the porch, dwelling on Mr. Savo's words. He sees a motion to the side of his field of vision, but ignores it at first. Then, he notices a housefly caught in an intricate spider's web on one side of the porch.

How do we view this "cockeyed" world? Some might see God's providence. Others might see his permitting omniscience. Some may see no good in it at all. To most, it just does not make sense. This world is plain "cockeyed" and there seems to be little explanation for it. Even if we have an explanation for why it happens, that does not mean that this world makes sense. The events themselves still seem cockeyed, at times. In this world of suffering and "cockeyed" events, what is our response?

Reuven saw the fly struggling to free itself, only to get caught again. The spider who had spun the web was approaching to claim his prey. Reuven went over to the web and looked closer at the situation. He then blew at the web to destroy its hold on the fly, but it held fast. With one more hard burst of air, the web gave way and the fly was free.

Will we ignore what is happening in this world if it is not directly in front of us, or will we look closer? Do I choose to go and investigate, but then let happen? Or do I do what little I can to help those caught in the webs of self deceit, lies, oppression of any and various kinds, poverty, pain, illness....even if they may seem to be small and insignificant, yet, I can do something about it. In fact, I may be the only one who can, but it may escape my notice if I'm not paying attention.

Sometimes people who feel helpless about the world will do small things such as Reuven did to help themselves feel like they can really do something about the cockeyed world. These small acts such as helping a dog caught out in the rain, feeding the stray cat on the back porch, or donating a great number of coins to the bell ringer at the store door at Christmas time are important ways of redeeming what should not be. Especially with the last we can see how it helps other people, but we often get something more than modest pleasure in giving, don't we? It isn't necessarily wrong to do these things, they can be part of doing the small good things, as mentioned before. But can we do more? Are there parts of this cockeyed world which I ignore because I'm not willing to do more, perhaps as Reuven could have done, to call little Billy sooner in my busy schedule to encourage him before the chance passes me by to help someone in pain? What do I ignore, what do I investigate but leave alone, what do I give one try and then give up--if only I would have tried once more?
~ May we have a great doing time!

Studying German as a Jew in a World at War

In chapter eight of Book Two, Reuven finds out that Danny is learning German. It disturbs him-- Understandably, because, at that time, the world was at war against the Nazi German leadership, opposed to the Jewish people. Danny thinks this is why Reuven reacts the way he does. However, that is not Reuven's concern. Reuven is concerned about Danny becoming like Solomon Maimon, who allowed his hungering for knowledge to become an all-controlling force that ruined the remainder of his life.

We may never know the difficulty that Danny went through as he studied psychology, which was forbidden in his community, and German, which was not looked upon favorably by many at that time. Even his own friend was concerned about his amazing desire and ability to learn. However, it is notable that while the Nazis used the German language and committed atrocities, the language itself was not evil. That may seem to be a mute point, but hear me out. There are some things which in themselves are not evil-- we just need to be careful how ourselves and others (i.e., those who have written about them or who discuss them) use those subjects. Take English or writing, for example. The power of words is amazing, and how we use them often impacts the thoughts of others. Science also has the ability to used for great good or great harm. Now consider philosophy and the power of ideas. Perhaps there are some fundamental truths which many philosophers express and which we can say, "Yes, that is something that is God's truth." One might look at the Bible, general or natural revelation, or specific guidance to make this calling. However, many ideas can be applied incorrectly and used for great evil. Hitler read much philosophy, but the philosphers he read carried some ideas to one point, and he carried them to another. It is all about how we use it.

We should use what God made to be good as good, and we can do this in all aspects of our education and our life. We do not need to let our desire for an education corrupt us or side track us from what is really important, but allow Him to use our hunger for a particular subject to be moderated by life and be part of life--but not corrupt it. Let's use it for the glory of God. Just some thoughts...

Darkness and Sunlight - by Heather Tiller

“The world jumped into focus and everything looked suddenly bright and fresh and clean…and there was newness everywhere, a feeling that I had been away a long time in a dark place and was now returning home to sunlight.” (The Chosen, 95)

When I first read this passage, I was struck by it. I know the feeling Reuven is speaking of, that wonderful clarity that comes from putting on a pair of glasses after an extended time without them. It is an incredible relief to be able to say, “Oh, now I can see!” Reuven's experience holds the deeper meaning of symbolism and foreshadowing as his life takes off in an unprecedented direction.

At this point in the novel, Reuven’s life has turned a crucial corner and will never again be what it was. He may not know exactly what the future holds, but there is a definite sense of hope as he describes his house and neighborhood as if seeing them for the first time. The “dark place” he felt he had been in before is symbolic of his life before Danny’s friendship; now that he is beginning to understand more about this remarkable boy and the Hasidic way of life, his life is filled with the “sunlight” of knowledge, love, and friendship.

But where there is light, there are usually shadows.
Even though Reuven is seeing the world anew and has such bright prospects for the future, there remain shadows of uncertainty that threaten to undermine his friendship with Danny. The largest shadow is Danny's father, Rabbi Saunders. Will he accept his son's friendship with an "apikorsim"?

The second area of darkness the boys must face is the ridicule they may suffer from their acquaintances who do not understand how the two - coming from such different worlds - could be friends. No matter what path Reuven decides to go down, he now has a clearer of knowledge of the world because of his new friendship that will prove more valuable than he could have dreamed.

As Esther said last week, it is all about perspective. Who knows what my happen to cause our vision of the world to change? Be concsious of this as you continue to read and live and prepare for the future.