Judaism in Chaim Potok's The Chosen: A Cultural Exploration

Judaism is a prominent feature in The Chosen, but it is presented in many different ways. Danny’s father is a rabbi and holds sermons in the synagogue. Reuven’s father, however, is more of a radical and a scholar. While Judaism is very common in the story, there are a few characters that are nonreligious, such as Billy and Mr. Savo; they provide a bridge to the rest of the world and a contrast to the Jewish culture which the reader is able to comprehend. At the same time there are historical landmarks in the making that impact the cultural aspect of the story. Hence, the cultural and historical values in Chaim Potok’s The Chosen are important to that era.

The historical and cultural values often tie into each other, when one is affected

the other is as well. Reb Saunders believed that there should not be a Jewish state until the messiah comes because of his faith.

David Malter, Reuven’s father, believed the need for a Jewish state was dire because of the information about Hitler and his concentration camps that had been published in the newspaper. The historical significance of millions of Jewish lives lost in Europe affected the cultural values in the Jewish community. Mr. Malter states, “We cannot wait for God….We have a terrible responsibility…The Jewish world is changed” (Potok 191). The impacts of the concentration camps were enormous and left the world unsettled. He goes on to say, “If we do not rebuild Jewry in America, we will die as a people” (191-192). He strongly believed his religion would waste away when the American Jews passed on. He believed this because of the historical events that had taken place; history affects culture. Reb Saunders’ viewpoint is much different from David Malter’s; instead, he believes that a Jewish state without the Messiah would be blasphemous. He asks, “Tell me, we should forget completely about the Messiah? For this six million of our people were slaughtered? That we should forget completely about the Messiah, that we should forget completely about the Master of the Universe” (Potok 198). Danny’s

father believes very strongly in the Torah and in God, and his religious and cultural practices are intensified by his experiences with his own people and their plight against the harshness of the world. He continues, “Why do you think I brought my people to America and not to Eretz Yirsroel, ah? Because it is better to live in a land of true goyim than to live in a land of Jewish goyim…True Jews do not say such a thing” (198). The history behind Reb Saunders’ decision is important to keep in mind when considering the Jewish culture. The history and culture of the Jewish people impacted the world because of their beliefs and how they chose to preserve their faith.
The beginning of The Chosen makes several references to World War II, an important event that held a heavy influence on Jewish history. Hitler’s concentration camps and the slaughter and degradation of millions of Jews causes both Mr. Malter and Mr. Saunders to become ill with grief; this historical event erased and negatively affected their religion and culture. Reuven’s father believed it meant that the creation of a Jewish state was necessary to preserve his people because he valued his culture. Danny’s father believed a Jewish state was a mistake because he also valued his culture and wanted it to stay pure and untainted by “Jewish goyim.” The Jewish cultural values of God and the Messiah are heavily referenced throughout the story to emphasize their devotedness. When Danny reads authors such as Graetz, he is able to better analyze and question his culture. He says, “Your father said I should read Jewish history. He said the first important step in anyone’s education is to know your own people” (Potok 154). He values his culture and has a burning need for knowledge, he wants to be able to form his own opinion on what he finds valuable in his religion and culture.