Welcome to Mr. Ingram's Blog. This site is dedicated to the discussion of various novels and assigned readings. Although it will be primarily used by Mr. Ingram's English 3 AP English class to determine the participation portion of their 9wks' average, anyone who stumbles across it may contribute to the discussion. The more the merrier.
Monday, March 9, 2009
THE CHOSEN - Ch. 7 – Reb
Reb Saunders is definitely what this chapter is all about. He comes out in a BIG way. He even intimidates me, and I know he is a fictional character. Focus on anything you would like to in this analysis just make sure it CENTERS AROUND REB.
10 comments:
Anonymous
said...
i dont really like reb saunders. i find him hard on Danny. Testing him in public seemed kind of harsh. What was the need of that? anyways, theres not much to say he is very religious and can sort of be seen as a fanatic if you take what he says that way. The way he referred the study of Torah and how the people of Isereal are commanded to study just goes on to show his belief in division from the outside world and the Jews. the side that reb brings out in Danny is crazy. He pretty much made Danny as mad as he was at Reuven when he wanted to kill him. Reb Saunders just overall has alot of power.
I totally have to agree with Jackie on her Analysis. I didn't really care much for Reb Saunders at all. He is one of those people that is very hard to follow and really get to the bottom of who he really is. I didn't like it at all how he quized Danny in front of his whole congregation. I thought that was really harsh. But of course I am not Jewish, and Jewish father, especially rabbis, set higher standards of expectations for their sons, and I guess this was just one of those things that Danny had to do to meet those expectations for his father. He did seem like a very intimidating man, like the way he was always changing his mood from angry to happy, then sad to gentle. I just really didn't get what that was all about. I also didn't like what he told Reuven about his father and how he criticized science. And that was one of the reasons that he wasn't sure that he wanted Danny to be friends with Reuven in the begining. He seemed to intimidate Reuven alot, and I don't blame him, I was starting to feel just a little intimidated myself. But out of all the reasons that I have listed why I don't really like Reb Saunders there is one main reason for my disliking him. And the reason is that Reb Saunders never talks to his son except during these harsh quizes every week. How could someone not talk to their son at all. That has to be my main reason that I just don't have a liking for his character. I did really enjoy this chapter alot more than the last, because now we finally now why Danny's character is the way that he is. It gave us clear details about where he is coming from and his family. I really do like this book so far, and can't wait to get to the next chapter.
Well, let's start off with the fact that i don't really like Reb Saunders, he reminds me of his son...Like you said Mr. Ingram, he intimidates me too. He, at first, is very dark and appears to be mean and doesn't really care too much that Reuven is there. Then he starts to act a little gentle with him and actually puts a smile on. I just hated the fact that he was testing him in front of everyone. He was scaring him. At first, Reb Saunders was confusing me because he was intimidating at first and mean then he started becoming more gentle and looked a little more calm, and he actually started to smile when they started dancing and singing when they were eating. He is just really hard to understand. Sort of like Danny was at the beginning, i didn't know that they were going to become friends, but he ended up coming the next day and so on. But Reb is just like his son and vise versa. It's hard to get to the bottom to what he's thinking or what he means or what he's even doing. Like he started to criticize Reuven about science and about mathematics, and about his father. He was just being very harsh with him. Danny was not liking that at all, and it started to make him very mad because Reuven is now his friend and he really wants his father's approval so that he can friends with him. But he's making things very complicated. But in the end, Reb did approve of Reuven, and would let them be friends. Like Reuven said, "he is a very complicated man to understand." But David Malter, says that he is a very great man, and so on. So i liked this chapter, but not as much as the last. I guess i liked the history of the last chapter, than i do the attitude of Reb Saunders.
i disagree with everyone so far. i actually kind of like Reb Saunders. What i dont like about him is how he doesn't really talk to his son. Even though he is a Rabbi, i believe that any father should talk to there son and not just say a couple words every now and then. I'll go ahead and say that i didn't really like this chapter that much because it was a little hard to follow at first but it started becoming really interesting when Reb started quizzing his son and quizzed Reuven on that question. it made me really antsy to find out what they were really doing and to see if Reuven would actually get the question right. I also don't really agree with everyone else with what they said about how its weird how he goes from being loud and crazy to really nice and relaxed. i don't really see a problem with that, i think it really just had something to do with the "worship" ceremony. But i do agree how he might be a little bit hard to know and understand because of what he does and how he treats Danny with never talking to him. I think that something is going to happen with Reb Saunders. i dont know if he'll turn out to be crazy or if him and Reuven's father are gonna kind of "battle" it out. I have the theory because they have so much respect for each other but only to a certain point. they both like how smart each other is, but dont like what they do. How Reuvens father does "scientific criticism" so Reb Saunders says, and how Reuven's father doesnt agree with Reb's work either. I don't really know but i think something between them is going to happen...
Ok Reb is totally complex. He's definitley an intresting character. He definitley has an intresting but sad past. I thought it was amazing that his leadership brought out all those people from Russia. It was much more intresting than the last chapter. Oh and Reb is also well educated. He's not necessarily at the genius level like his son but he's still very smart. Thats also a bit intimidating. I thought it was kind of intresting and funny at the same time, that they debate at a church, well synagogue. They debated for a while too. Reb really likes to test people to see if they know their stuff or if their just bluffing like he was with his mistakes. Reb's nicer side shows towards the end when he gives Reuven his approval to be Danny's friend. Basically Reb is a well educated man with a past who likes power and recongnition.
hate the guy. i don't understand why he treats danny the way he does. i didn't like how he tested him in front of so many people, but i guess if that's their tradition, then its okay. i really don't like the fact that he doesn't really talk to danny. i'm sure he has his reasons, but i have yet to figure it, or them, out.. that's one thing i'd like to figure out.. and i also don't like the way he acts..meaning, he has alot of power, and he knows he does..sometimes i felt like he was kinda taking advantage of it.. or maybe that's just the way rabbis are supposed to be...idk
I totally agree with Elena. I cannot stand Reb Saunders. He is just so...IDK... The way he treats his son is horrible. I don't care if that is a tradition, you don't try to humiliate your son in front of the whole congregation of your church! That might not have been his intentions, and he might not of succeeded, but that is besides the point. I didn't really see where Reb was ever a "nice" guy in this chapter, but Reuven thought so. He actually kind of reminds me of my dad, actually. Not religiously speaking, but their personalities are very similar. (I don't like my dad's personality)
Sorry I'm posting so late. I just could not concentrate last night while trying to read. That chapter was not a very good one, in my opinion...
I really don't like this guy Reb. He is too harsh with Danny by trying to do things to him in public. I like the part on how he is very religious. And how he speaks about the Torah and people of Iseral having to study is way of showing the line between the outside world and jewish world. Either way he is driving Danny to a point where he might explode who knows. Reb has a very strong character.
I don't like Reb Saunders. He just seems awkward and like the only thing he knows is his religion. He's also very tough on Danny and he has no reasoning behind it. And like what Katherine said, it's kind of out of line to call to start quizzing Danny in front of the WHOLE congregration. I think that he might be a little jealous of danny becuase he wasn't the first to inherit his father's spot. I think that it's just unnecessary. I don't know what to really say except for the fact that he's a jerk.
So, i'm going to agree with Philip and say that i like Reb Saunders and the way Potok chose to create this character. A lot of you are saying that you don't get why Reb Saunders treats Danny the way he does. Well that's the way he has to treat him. He needs to test his son to make sure he is paying attention and actually has the knowledge to become the next "Reb Saunders." IDK lyke maybZ im wrong but thats the way i see it. Reb Saunders has to be the way he is, that is his religion, so when people are religous they follow the rules they are supposed to. Reb tests Danny in front of everyone because, LIKE DAVID MALTER SAYS IN THE BOOK, he has to show everyone that his son has one it takes to inherit the position. I like Reb, good character, and he will cause conflict. I LIKE IT.
10 comments:
i dont really like reb saunders. i find him hard on Danny. Testing him in public seemed kind of harsh. What was the need of that? anyways, theres not much to say he is very religious and can sort of be seen as a fanatic if you take what he says that way. The way he referred the study of Torah and how the people of Isereal are commanded to study just goes on to show his belief in division from the outside world and the Jews. the side that reb brings out in Danny is crazy. He pretty much made Danny as mad as he was at Reuven when he wanted to kill him. Reb Saunders just overall has alot of power.
I totally have to agree with Jackie on her Analysis. I didn't really care much for Reb Saunders at all. He is one of those people that is very hard to follow and really get to the bottom of who he really is. I didn't like it at all how he quized Danny in front of his whole congregation. I thought that was really harsh. But of course I am not Jewish, and Jewish father, especially rabbis, set higher standards of expectations for their sons, and I guess this was just one of those things that Danny had to do to meet those expectations for his father. He did seem like a very intimidating man, like the way he was always changing his mood from angry to happy, then sad to gentle. I just really didn't get what that was all about. I also didn't like what he told Reuven about his father and how he criticized science. And that was one of the reasons that he wasn't sure that he wanted Danny to be friends with Reuven in the begining. He seemed to intimidate Reuven alot, and I don't blame him, I was starting to feel just a little intimidated myself. But out of all the reasons that I have listed why I don't really like Reb Saunders there is one main reason for my disliking him. And the reason is that Reb Saunders never talks to his son except during these harsh quizes every week. How could someone not talk to their son at all. That has to be my main reason that I just don't have a liking for his character. I did really enjoy this chapter alot more than the last, because now we finally now why Danny's character is the way that he is. It gave us clear details about where he is coming from and his family. I really do like this book so far, and can't wait to get to the next chapter.
Well, let's start off with the fact that i don't really like Reb Saunders, he reminds me of his son...Like you said Mr. Ingram, he intimidates me too. He, at first, is very dark and appears to be mean and doesn't really care too much that Reuven is there. Then he starts to act a little gentle with him and actually puts a smile on. I just hated the fact that he was testing him in front of everyone. He was scaring him. At first, Reb Saunders was confusing me because he was intimidating at first and mean then he started becoming more gentle and looked a little more calm, and he actually started to smile when they started dancing and singing when they were eating. He is just really hard to understand. Sort of like Danny was at the beginning, i didn't know that they were going to become friends, but he ended up coming the next day and so on. But Reb is just like his son and vise versa. It's hard to get to the bottom to what he's thinking or what he means or what he's even doing. Like he started to criticize Reuven about science and about mathematics, and about his father. He was just being very harsh with him. Danny was not liking that at all, and it started to make him very mad because Reuven is now his friend and he really wants his father's approval so that he can friends with him. But he's making things very complicated. But in the end, Reb did approve of Reuven, and would let them be friends. Like Reuven said, "he is a very complicated man to understand." But David Malter, says that he is a very great man, and so on. So i liked this chapter, but not as much as the last. I guess i liked the history of the last chapter, than i do the attitude of Reb Saunders.
i disagree with everyone so far. i actually kind of like Reb Saunders. What i dont like about him is how he doesn't really talk to his son. Even though he is a Rabbi, i believe that any father should talk to there son and not just say a couple words every now and then. I'll go ahead and say that i didn't really like this chapter that much because it was a little hard to follow at first but it started becoming really interesting when Reb started quizzing his son and quizzed Reuven on that question. it made me really antsy to find out what they were really doing and to see if Reuven would actually get the question right. I also don't really agree with everyone else with what they said about how its weird how he goes from being loud and crazy to really nice and relaxed. i don't really see a problem with that, i think it really just had something to do with the "worship" ceremony. But i do agree how he might be a little bit hard to know and understand because of what he does and how he treats Danny with never talking to him. I think that something is going to happen with Reb Saunders. i dont know if he'll turn out to be crazy or if him and Reuven's father are gonna kind of "battle" it out. I have the theory because they have so much respect for each other but only to a certain point. they both like how smart each other is, but dont like what they do. How Reuvens father does "scientific criticism" so Reb Saunders says, and how Reuven's father doesnt agree with Reb's work either. I don't really know but i think something between them is going to happen...
Ok Reb is totally complex. He's definitley an intresting character. He definitley has an intresting but sad past. I thought it was amazing that his leadership brought out all those people from Russia. It was much more intresting than the last chapter. Oh and Reb is also well educated. He's not necessarily at the genius level like his son but he's still very smart. Thats also a bit intimidating. I thought it was kind of intresting and funny at the same time, that they debate at a church, well synagogue. They debated for a while too. Reb really likes to test people to see if they know their stuff or if their just bluffing like he was with his mistakes. Reb's nicer side shows towards the end when he gives Reuven his approval to be Danny's friend. Basically Reb is a well educated man with a past who likes power and recongnition.
hate the guy. i don't understand why he treats danny the way he does. i didn't like how he tested him in front of so many people, but i guess if that's their tradition, then its okay. i really don't like the fact that he doesn't really talk to danny. i'm sure he has his reasons, but i have yet to figure it, or them, out.. that's one thing i'd like to figure out.. and i also don't like the way he acts..meaning, he has alot of power, and he knows he does..sometimes i felt like he was kinda taking advantage of it.. or maybe that's just the way rabbis are supposed to be...idk
I totally agree with Elena. I cannot stand Reb Saunders. He is just so...IDK... The way he treats his son is horrible. I don't care if that is a tradition, you don't try to humiliate your son in front of the whole congregation of your church! That might not have been his intentions, and he might not of succeeded, but that is besides the point. I didn't really see where Reb was ever a "nice" guy in this chapter, but Reuven thought so. He actually kind of reminds me of my dad, actually. Not religiously speaking, but their personalities are very similar. (I don't like my dad's personality)
Sorry I'm posting so late. I just could not concentrate last night while trying to read. That chapter was not a very good one, in my opinion...
I really don't like this guy Reb. He is too harsh with Danny by trying to do things to him in public. I like the part on how he is very religious. And how he speaks about the Torah and people of Iseral having to study is way of showing the line between the outside world and jewish world. Either way he is driving Danny to a point where he might explode who knows. Reb has a very strong character.
I don't like Reb Saunders. He just seems awkward and like the only thing he knows is his religion. He's also very tough on Danny and he has no reasoning behind it. And like what Katherine said, it's kind of out of line to call to start quizzing Danny in front of the WHOLE congregration. I think that he might be a little jealous of danny becuase he wasn't the first to inherit his father's spot. I think that it's just unnecessary. I don't know what to really say except for the fact that he's a jerk.
So, i'm going to agree with Philip and say that i like Reb Saunders and the way Potok chose to create this character. A lot of you are saying that you don't get why Reb Saunders treats Danny the way he does. Well that's the way he has to treat him. He needs to test his son to make sure he is paying attention and actually has the knowledge to become the next "Reb Saunders." IDK lyke maybZ im wrong but thats the way i see it. Reb Saunders has to be the way he is, that is his religion, so when people are religous they follow the rules they are supposed to. Reb tests Danny in front of everyone because, LIKE DAVID MALTER SAYS IN THE BOOK, he has to show everyone that his son has one it takes to inherit the position. I like Reb, good character, and he will cause conflict. I LIKE IT.
next chapter
Post a Comment