The Chosen

Watch the movie adaptation of The Chosen and discuss how it represents the characters and the themes. Do Danny and Reuven come across the same way? How are their different types of Judaism portrayed?

Make a case that the looks deceive motif is the major idea of the novel. How does it relate to Danny and Reuven’s friendship? How does the motif create an enigma around Reb Saunders?

Danny says he can read seven or eight books a week. Try to match Danny and read seven or eight books in one week, and then write about the experience of succeeding or coming up short.

Reb Saunders is a dynamic character—there’s a lot going on with him. Map out his traits—what are his good points, and what are his drawbacks? Use quotes from other characters to prove the points.

Discuss the book as an introduction to Judaism. What does the story teach the reader about Judaism? How does it portray its diverse beliefs? Conversely, does it—however unintentionally—perpetuate stereotypes?

Discuss the role that Israel plays in the book. How does Israel connect to the Holocaust, and how do the two events propel Reuven’s and Danny’s stories?

Unpack the theme of The Intricacies of Friendship. How do Danny and Reuven become friends? Why do they stay friends? Is the friendship one-sided? Does one boy depend on the other more?

Dissect the title of Potok’s book. How does it play with the belief that the Jews are the “chosen” people? How does Reb Saunders reflect the idea that the Jews are chosen people? What other types of “choosings” occur in the book?