The Chosen: Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

Reuven is treated like family in the Saunders home. The mother heaps food on his plate and the sister teases him. Levi, Danny’s brother, is sickly and wanders “ghostlike” around the house. Danny and Reuven now spend all their time together, and finally have time to discuss Freud. They visit Mr. Malter at the hospital, spend time with Danny’s mother and sister, and read together.

Danny and Reuven argue over the Talmud when Reb Saunders is free but he is almost never free because people are always coming to see him. He is very distant and on one occasion starts weeping at the table. He still never speaks with Danny unless they are talking about the Talmud.

Danny has gotten deep into Freud, whose writings upset him, but he cannot stop reading because he believes the Freud has great “insight into the nature of man.” Danny notes that Freud’s knowledgeable opinion of man is also very antireligious and negative.

Danny now understands and reads Freud with ease and begins teaching some of it the Reuven. Reuven begins to wonder how Danny can believe in the tenets of the Talmud and of Freud at the same time – it seems that one or other should win. Danny ignores Reuven.

Reuven does not talk to his father about Danny because he does not want to worry him while he is in the hospital. Mr. Malter has become obsessed with the plight of European Jews. He is very sick and weak and talks of nothing else but building a Jewish homeland in Palestine. He says that they cannot wait for the Messiah.

Reuven mentions the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine (also known as Zionism) to Reb Saunders, not mentioning that his father supports it. Reb Saunders explodes with anger and says that it is sacrilegious for a Jewish homeland to be made before the coming of the Messiah – especially by secular Jews.

Reuven is shocked by Reb Saunders’s rage. Reb Saunders keeps repeating, “should we just forget the Messiah?” He says true Jews could not believe in Zionism.

Danny explains to Reuven that a secular Jewish state is a violation of everything his father believes in, and that Reuven should never mention it again. Danny says that if Reb Saunders knew that Reuven’s father believed in Zionism he would kick Reuven out of the house.

Danny talks about his brother, Levi. He is worried about his brother’s sickness because he realized recently that his brother could continue the dynasty and become a tzaddic if Danny decided to study psychology. Danny says he hasn’t told his father this yet, but he will need Reuven when he does.

Reuven tries to talk about Danny’s sister but Danny won't. He says that his sister was promised to be married when she was two years old. Danny says that he pities his father because he is a great man but is intellectually trapped. Danny believes that he is trapped as well.

Reuven goes to the summer cottage with his father and, while there, the United States bombs Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the war in Japan ends. In September, Reuven and Danny both start at Hirsch College. Danny now wears glasses.