The Chosen: Chapter 17 Summary & Analysis

It is Danny and Reuven’s last year of college. Reuven tells a joke to Danny about Hasidim, which Danny finds very funny and then Reuven tells one about being able to hear silence and Danny doesn’t laugh. Danny says that he is able to listen to silence. Reuven doesn’t understand and Danny says that you have to want to listen to be able to hear it.

Reuven tells Danny that he should find a girl to distract himself. Reuven has been going out to dates on Saturdays. Danny says that he cannot because he already has a pre-arranged wife. This is another reason why it will be hard to break from his Hasidic path.

Reuven is invited to Danny’s brother’s bar mitzvah. Levi is tall and thin and after the ceremony becomes deathly ill and is taken to the hospital. Reuven then tells Mr. Malter about Danny’s plans to get a doctorate in psychology and not become a tzaddic. He also says that Danny is especially worried by Levi’s sickness because he wants his brother to take his place as tzaddic.

Mr. Malter encourages his son to speak to Danny about how he will break the news of his plan to Reb Saunders. Reuven then asks his father about Reb Saunders’ silence and Mr. Malter mutters angrily, “why must they feel the burden of the world is only on their shoulders?” He tells Reuven that he does not really understand; all he knows is that it is a way of bringing up children.

Levi returns from the hospital and Danny tells Reuven that Levi should be fine. Danny then says that he is planning to apply to Harvard, Berkeley, and Columbia for fellowships in psychology. Reuven suggests that he should tell his father about it right now and get it over with, but Danny says that he does not want explosions from his father over the meals every day. Reuven suggests that Danny should talk to Mr. Malter.

Mr. Malter tells Danny that he needs to prepare very carefully exactly what he will say. Mr. Malter then asks Danny if he can hear silence. Danny nods. Danny is not angry with his father but he also does not understand why his father acts as he. Mr. Malter says that no one can help Danny because it is between him and his father, but reminds him to plan carefully what to say and anticipate what Reb Saunders’ questions will be.

Danny gets in to all three universities. Reb Saunders must have seen the letters because he picks up the mail, but he did not say anything. Danny’s sister gets pregnant. Danny says that his father keeps asking why Reuven is not coming over on Shabbat anymore. Reuven says that it is because he studies Talmud with his father on Shabbat, but in reality it is because he does not like Reb Saunders and does not want to see him.

Danny has decided that he will go to Columbia and thinks he might live at his sister’s house. Reb Saunders continue to ask Reuven to come over and Reuven says he will try, but does not actually try very hard because he hates Reb Saunders.

Winter turns to spring and Danny has buried himself in his work to keep his anxiety over his father at bay. Reb Saunders asks Reuven (through Danny) to come over on the first or second day of Passover. When Reuven tells his father about this request, Mr. Malter gets angry with Reuven. He says that when someone asks to speak with you, you must speak with them.

Reuven tells his father that Reb Saunders just wanted to study Talmud, and Mr. Malter says that Reuven has not been listening. He says that Reb Saunders wants to talk to Reuven about Danny as he did years ago when Danny was going to the library. Reuven calls Danny to tell him he will come over on Sunday at around 4.