October Harvest

     The Story of Friendship  People of the Jewish religion have been discriminated against in the past and even today. People were sent to concentration camps, a place where a German Dictator named, Adolf Hitler, sent them during World War II, where they were cruelly killed. This was a time of fear for these people, a time for hiding. But Reuven the main character in "The Chosen," written by Chaim Potok, is not scared of his religion like people in the past; he is proud of his Jewish beliefs; he embraces it. I understand why he thinks so strongly about his religion; it’s the way he was brought up. Reuven reminds me of a girl I have read about, Anne Frank. She was also proud to be Jewish just as Reuven was. They were born in different times but share some of the same difficulties of prejudice.  In the beginning of the novel there was an incident while Reuven was playing softball. In the last

inning of his softball game Reuven pitches a ball to Danny, when Danny hits the ball it hurtles toward Reuven's face. As it hits Reuven in the face his glasses smash into his eyes. Reuven tries to find a positive in every person, so after the incident he tried not to blame Danny for what happened. It was hard at first to accept Danny's apology, but after a little convincing from his dad, Danny and Reuven finally forgive each other. Also Reuven takes his religion seriously and so did his dad. His dad would tell him stories from about Jewish history, to explain something to Reuven. So when Reuven asked about Danny, he told his dad, "I already know enough Jewish history." This is stating that Reuven is smart and takes pride in his religion.   After previously being hit in the face by a softball and his glasses breaking in his face, he was later

taken to the doctor. Once at the doctor's office the doctor had to perform surgery to remove the glass from Reuven's eyes. At his long stay at the hospital he starts to realize that people have it a lot worse than him. This opens up a whole new light to Reuven; he starts to see the world in a completely different way. Then when Danny came to apologize, it took Reuven a while to accept his apology.

But, Reuven's father insists that he make peace with Danny, telling him, "A boy like that needs friends." After Reuven and Danny make up a friendship forms between the two. Now once rival softball players are now friends, this was a dramatic change for both of them.  At the end of the novel, Reuven confronts his dad and tells him he doesn't want to be a

mathematician, and has decided he wants to be a rabbi. Before Danny leaves for Columbia University, he stops by to see Reuven.  Both Danny and Reuven realize how hard life is and how strong friendship is. Reuven realized that he was his own person and wants to excel in life and be successful in life.  
 Reuven learns to be his own person and he didn’t have to be what his father wanted to be. Also he

learns that friendship is very important and that even though he and Danny are going their separate ways that doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice their friendship. Danny proved this by going to visit Reuven on his way to Columbia University. They have a very special bond that can’t be broken, they understand each other. Also they show dedication to their religion, I think that we should all take this much pride into what we believe in just like Reuven.