Dr. Chaim Potok's 'The Chosen': Sensational
Novel Steeped in Learning, Analyzes Hasidism

Iran Jewish Leaders Form Council of Organizations

Charles H. Jordan, executive vice-
chairman of the Joint Distribution
Committee.
The new council will discuss
jointly with the JDC the priorities
assigned to existing programs and
services, as well as local fund-
raising activities.

TEHRAN — A unanimous deci-
cision taken by representatives of
all Jewish organizations in Tehran,
Iran, to form a council of organi-
zations represents "the first for-
ward step toward the creation of a
central Jewish coordinating body"
in Iran, it was stated here by

modern scholar, the teacher and heroes—the Hasid Danny—is slated
writer, Reuven's father, interpret to succeed his father as the head
Hasidism. It is not overly friendly, of his Hasidic dynasty.
but not too antagonistic. And when There came a crisis: Reb Saun-
Reuven goes to Danny's home, to ders read in the Yiddish papers
the Hasidic synagogue, is subject- the report of an impasioned Zion-
ed to the tests of Danny's father, ist speech at a public rally—it
to the interrogations, we have the was in the period when Irgun and 0,
display of pilpul, of debate over Revisionists and Hagana were in 0
contrasted principles,
the struggle for independence that
There is a remarkable test here was to lead to the establishment
in skills of propagating ideas based of Israel—and he would not tol-
on prejudices as well as historic erate his son's fraternizing with
interpretations. The mitnagdim, goyim: "Reb Saunders didn't mind
the opponents of Hasidism, are his son reading forbidden books,
introduced as the challengers of but never would he let his son be
the former, and the historian Hein- the, friend of the son of a man
rich Graetz's views are introduced who was advocating the establish-
as evidence. Graetz's extreme con- ment of a secular Jewish state run
a
demnation of the Hasidism is not by goyim ."
The tolerant Mr. Malter, on the
completely accepted, but it is the
DR. CHAIM POTOK
subject of an interesting discussion, contrary, when told by Reuven
since it proves so hurtful to those of what had transpired, said: "The
Dr. Chaim Potok, who was one in the Potok story who are seeking fanaticism of men like Reb Saun-
of the speakers at last year's Jew- a just approach to the issue. ders kept us alive for 2,000 years a
a
ish Book Fair at the Jewish Cen-
The debate in "The Chosen," of exile. If the Jews of Palestine
ter, the recently named editor of the evaluations, are illuminating. have an ounce of that same fanat-
the Jewish Publication Society of They are like a superb test of icism and use it wisely, we will
America, a former rabbi, has writ- history rather than a mere dia. soon have a Jewish state."
a
ten a novel. Ile confided in some logue in a novel.
• • •
a
while in Detroit that he was hist
Then comes the subject of Zion-
A friendship was interrupted. a
completing it, but no one would ism. Reuven brings to the Saunders There was deep hurt over the rift.
have dreamt, then, that his story the idea—his father's—of the need Reb Saunders organized a relig- a
would be such a sensation; or that to rebuild Zion, of the idealism ious anti-Zionist league. It was a a
it would go so deeply into an inherent in Zionism. Rabbi Saun- period of tension. But when Israel
analysis of Jewish mysticism, of ders is infuriated. He rants against became a fact the ban on the
orthodoxy, of differing views among the Zionist idea, protests against Danny-Reuven friendship was lift-
Jews. It does—and the approach permitting the godless like Ben- ed and the two began to meet
is based on such great scholar- Gurion build up Jewish life when again, to discuss Freud, to ex-
ship, on research, in a sense also it has been decreed that only the change views.
on the psychological, that it might Messiah can bring back the home-
Danny began to think in terms
well he one of the most discussed less to their homeland.
of abandoning the Hasidic dyna-
stories of the year.
In contrast, Reuven's father sty. He was determined to pursue
Published by Simon and Schu- father labored for Zionism, 'for an academic career. He decided
ster, - The Chosen," while it deals the JNF, told Reuven afterward to abandon his Hadisic chaftan,
with two families with strongly that he was tired waiting for the to shave off his beard. It was a
opposing Jewish views, is a thor- Messiah, that one must work to crisis. But his father accepted the
inevitable. Danny went his way.
oughly American work, It is a attain freedom for his people.
4. 4, 4.
It was a temporary anguish. Is-
novel about two boys who opposed
There also is the discussion over rael's emergence taught Reb Saun-
each other in a baseball game.
They were on teams of an ultra- Freudian ideas. Danny, the genius ders a lesson. Danny turned to
right Hasidic school and a yeshiva with a remarkable memory, had studying the Talmud with Reuven's
of more modern concepts, if this gone in for self-study of Freud father. It was a revolutionary turn
term can he applied to it on the and of the German language. Reu- in the life of a Hasid and a serious
basis of the latter's acceptance ven was the mathematician. The lesson for the mitnaged.
of secular subjects and of the psychological aspects of Danny's
"The Chosen" is a powerful
Zionist idea. studies were under debate, espe- story. One wonders whether it is
cially since his psychology profes- autobiographical. In all events, it
The one of the latter team, Reit. sor did not accept Freud. Hypoth- is a novel based on historic ex-
ven Mailer, was pitching when esis, analyses, induction were periences, linking present with
the Hasidic batter Danny Saun- among the perplexing problems.
past, — a notable achievement by
tiers. who prior to the game I These challenges emerge import- a rabbinic scholar who is steeped
threatened a killing of the oppo- ant in a volume one of whose in worldly knowledge.
nents—the apikorsim—the heretics
—actually aimed at him, struck
him in the eye with a fast ball. I Mufti of Jerusalem Returns to Stir Arabs
Reuven failed to duck, landed in
LONDON (ZINS) — Veteran mer mufti met with King Hussein
the hospital was operated on. For-
tunately, his eye healed. In the political observers are speculating of Jordan and denounced Nasser
about
the return of a familiar for having "merely used the Pal-
course of his recuperation, Danny
began to visit him. They became notorious figure to his old haunts. estinian cause and the refugees to
staunch friends, visited each other, It concerns the former mufti of further his own popularity." He
and the opposing views of the two Jerusalem Haj Amin who in the also assailed Shukairy as "an op-
'30s under the British Mandate portunist with loyalty to nobody
families came into play.
incited the Arabs to bloody riots but himself."
against
the Yis-
In view of the former mufti's
Then we are introduced to the
huv
in Palestine.
past record of stirring up trouble,
meat of the story. It is the differ-
During
World p
his return to the old city of Jeru-
ence between the extremists in
salem has an ominous foreboding.
Hasidism and those who accepted War II he was a.
the Western ways of life that come guest of Hitler in f
Berlin.
According
into contrast. Dr. Potok emerges
Plans Told for Publishing
the expert who first presents the to a report from
Amman. the capi-
of Weizmann Documents
tal of Jordan, the
REHOVOT — Meyer Weisgal,
former mufti re-
president of the Weizmann Insti-
turned 'to O 1 d
tute, reported Wednesday on his
Jerusalem after
return from a visit to Britain that
30 years of exile
he had completed arrangements
in Egypt and
with the Oxford University Press
Arab Countries.
for publication in English of the
Upon his re-
letters and archives of Dr. Chaim
Mufti
turn. he told
Weizmann, Israel's first president,
crowds in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, covering a period of 60 years.
in the Old City of Jerusalem that
Weisgal, who also visited other
"I am here to stay and to fight."
European countries and the United
Those in the know are wonder-
States (including Detroit), said he
ing whether his split with Nasser
had discussed with scientists plans
and with Ahmed Shukairy, leader
for an 'appropriate memorial for
But who can count
of the so-called "Palestine Libera-
the late Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer,
tion Organization," is a smoke-
the !hes it's wasted?
screen or whether he is genuinely the noted physicist who was a
LI do to help?
disappointed even with them for member of the Weizmann Institute
their failure to "Liberate Pal- board of governors and an honor-
ary fellow of the institute.
estine."
He reported also that prepara-
'• Ct
!tee
The report states that the for- tions were under way for a meeting
•
of the institute board of governors
Associates
on April 26 which will be attended
Name
He who comes from the kitchen, by many leading scientists from
Address
smells of its smoke; and he who all over the world, including sev-
Gay
adheres to a sect, has something eral Nobel Prize winners.
of its cant; the college air pursues
State
A diplomat is a man who re,-
the student; and dry- inhumanity
him who herds with lit e r a r y members a lady's birthday but for-
r. r
,
L
atm •vota,...4saiiatitei,./4040,
i •
t.lblidoigtire.,,,..

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