The Promise (ISBN 039444163X)

Excellent Reading and Sequal:
This book, as well as "The Chosen", which was almost like an intro to it, were two of the best books I have ever read. While I found one of Potok's other books, "My Name is Asher Lev" thought provoking, yet quite disturbing, "The Promise" was still thought provoking, yet deeper, more complex, and not so disturbing. So for everyone who has read "The Chosen" and enjoyed it, they are bound to enjoy this book, which picks up with Reuvan Malter still in school studying to be a rabbi and his best friend Danny Saunders, almost a psychologist now who is about to embark on a very difficult case. Enjoy!

Mature and very well done:
Very good mature sequell to Choosen. Chaim Potok at his best

Theological Food for Thought:
I love reading Potok's books for a variety of reasons, the least of which is that I always learn a tremendous amount about Judaism. I also like reading him from a Christian perspective and often wonder what he would make of messianic Jews (the Jews for Jesus folks). The Promise left me with many thoughts, not the least of which was what was the promise? Potok's struggle to reconcile the various approaches to Judaism in 20th century America is insightful and refreshing. And it's not limited to Judaism. I think there is much to be gleaned here that is applicable to us even within mainstream Christian denominations. In a lot of ways the Michael character represents the end result of what happened to the Jews in the 20th century. He finally blows up in anger at his parents for belonging to a religion where they are open to attacks, anti-Semitism, and victimization. In his final breakdown he screams that he hates religion because of what it does to people. Michael's rage and mental illness are symbolic of not only what did happen to the Jews in the 20th century, but what happened when Jews could not accept the events of the holocaust and choose to walk away from the idea of God. I think it is also symbolic of what happens when there is legalism and instead of love (but that's my Christian bias). Michael's father ethnically and religiously identifies as a Jew, but asserts there is no God. Likewise, many Jews walked away from their faith, away from the idea of a God who created the universe (like Abraham Gordon) because of what Hitler did to the Jews in World War II. They could no longer comprehend that a loving God would allow that kind of suffering. Of course, they also don't accept Christ's ultimate suffering on the cross either. The movement from Orthodox to reformed Jew is played out in Abraham Gordon's character. Reuven and his father are also a part of this movement in a small way. They reformed the way the Talmud is studied, which became an instant threat to the Orthodox way of studying. I also enjoyed the way Potok paralleled what was happening with the Jewish community with what was happening in the American secular political world with his references to McCarthyism. That the sort of rigid witch hunting legalism that forbade the yeshiva students from even studying in the Jewish theological seminary is and was a rampant human universal even outside of the Jewish community. Reuven's own struggle to maintain his theology and identity as a yeshiva student is all too poignant. I like the way Potok ends his theological debate with Danny's and Rachel's marriage. The beauty of Rachel and Danny's relationship points to the evolution of marrying (literally) old traditions to new ideas. Of course, the success of that remains to be seen, but the continued mixing of old and new traditions within 21st century Judaism is one of Potok's main points throughout the novel. All in all I loved it, and feel the better for having read it.

Loyal friendship:
The Promise, sequel to The Chosen, finds Danny and Reuven now just in their early twenties and approaching the end of their studies. The battle between Orthodox and Reformed beliefs continues along with its consequential effect on Danny and Reuven, and now coming into the arena in addition to Reuven's teachers is Abraham Gordon, the uncle of Reuven's girlfriend Rachel. Then Danny and Reuven have an additional problem to contend with: Abraham Gordon's emotionally disturbed fourteen year old son Michael; the two boys become deeply involved, Danny in his role as a student psychologist and Reuven as Michael's new friend. As in The Promise there are plenty of discussions centred around the Talmud, but they are so well explained and presented that they are of interest even for someone who has little or no knowledge of such. But the real beauty of the story is the relationship between the characters. The two boys are remarkable individuals who by their modest and respectful attitude along with their devotion to their faith seem to endear them to all whom they meet. Danny and Reuven remain best friends and show complete trust in each other; Reuven's active concern for Michael is very touching; and Reuven's relationship with his father, the love and respect he has for him, is a joy to behold. The Promise is a remarkable book, a fitting conclusion to the fascinating story which started in The Chosen. Extremely well written, it is an enjoyable, thought provoking and heart warming tale which I highly recommend.

A continuation of a masterpiece.:
Chaim Potok creates such heart-warming stories...as evident in his earlier work The Chosen...that grab the reader in such a way that you almost become a character in them. Yet, calling his work engaging is a bit of an understatement. The two friends are back in the sequel to Chosen...one is studying psychology and the other is beginning life as a rabbi. Reuvan is the main focus of the story with his entry into the teachings of Judaism and his struggles are apparent early on as his teacher, a fundamentalist, urges the young student in a similar direction. But the story is so much deeper than that. The choices of morality and the dramatic effects it has on the growth of humanity are done in a way that I am literally at a loss of words. This is truly one book that lives up to and expands upon its predecessor.