“The noise inside the synagogue ceased so abruptly that I felt its absence as one would a sudden lack of air…it simply stopped, cut off, as if a door had slammed shut on a playroom filled with children. The silence that followed had a strange quality to it: expectation, eagerness, love, awe” (124-125). The Chosen by Chaim Potok tells a story about a boy named Reuven, who befriends another boy called Danny and his father. Despite their different religions, both Reuven and Danny have many adventures together and learn about each other’s religion. Danny’s father, Reb Saunders, lives his life as a Hasidic Rabbi portraying traditional, Orthodox Judaism. He cares for his congregation sometimes more than his family. Oftentimes, Reb Saunders also devotes himself to the Jewish community who respect him and look to him as their leader. Throughout the book, Reb Saunders demonstrates determination, passionate, and responsible character traits.
To begin, Reb Saunders shows determination. This means having made a firm decision and being resolved not to change it. In the story, when Reb Saunders made a decision, he rarely changed it. When Danny told Reuven about his father, Danny said, “He’s a very strong-willed person. When he makes up his mind about something, that’s it, …show more content…
In the end, Reb Saunders does not change his mind, he stands up for what he believes in, and cares for his people. Many Jews look up to him as their leader, and listen to everything he says. His knowledge of the Jewish religion surpasses many great scholars, and anyone who has troubles goes to him for help. The people in Reb Saunders community know about his teachings, and he always seems busy solving their problems and resolving various arguments. Overall, Reb Saunders stands out as a unique character who portrays many outstanding