The Chosen Essays (3379 words) - The Chosen, The Promise

The Chosen Reading Journal Chapter One 1. "Remember why and for whom we play." (p. 16) This passage shows the rabbi of Reuven's rival team telling his players to focus and concentrate on the importance of the baseball game they are about to play. They are playing for the glory of their God and not to just have fun. To these young teenage boys their religion has importance in all aspects of their life even their after school recreational activities. 2. The first pitch was low, and Danny Saunders ignored it. The second one started to come in shoulder-high, and before it was two thirds of the way to the plate, I was standing on second base. (p. 30) This seemingly irrelevant scene in the book is actually very important because it shows how Reuven controls his own destiny. Anticipating what is going to happen based on previous experience is crucial, not just in baseball but also in life. Reuven was the only one on his team that reacted like this and it shows his leadership abilities in key situations. Chapter Two 3. "Enjoy your meal," she said smiling. "Thank you very much," I said. I had been concerned about eating. (p. 44) As soon as Reuven regained consciousness in the hospital his main concern was remaining kosher according to his religion. His natural instinct of hunger was put after the desire to obey his Jewish beliefs. This shows what a key factor Reuven's religion is to him in all aspects of life. 4. "It's not all right," I said "I want you to tell me." "There is nothing to tell you. They told me it was all right." "Abba, please tell me what's the matter." (p. 48) This passage explains the close connection between Reuven and his father. The boy can tell when his father is not being completely honest with him and Reuven longs to know what is going to happen to his eye. In his time of pain and concern Reuven knows that he can confide in his "Abba" for help and comforting. Chapter Three 5. Also, yesterday I had hated him; now we were calling each other by our first names. (p. 68) Reuven explains in this passage the change in emotions he felt towards Danny. The previous day Reuven deeply hated Danny but now they began to spend time together and grow as friends. It is also ironic that these two boys would probably never get to know each other if it was not for Reuven's injury. 6. "What would have happened if you had lost?" "I don't like to think about that. You don't know my father." "So you practically had to beat us." (p. 71) Here Danny tells Reuven that to the Hasidic softball team it was more than a game; it was an expression of Hasidic dominance. Danny's father, the Hasidic rabbi in the area formed the team for the sole purpose of glorifying his religion and failure was not an option for Danny and his team. Chapter Four 7. "I read a lot," he said. "I read about seven or eight books a week outside of my school work." (p. 79) Danny is telling Reuven about himself and his studying habits. Danny is an extremely intelligent person who reads on his own for the sole purpose of possessing that extra knowledge. This impresses Reuven who is also on a quest for knowledge and he only reads three or four books a week. 8. I suddenly realized it was my father who all along had been suggesting books for Danny to read. My father was the man Danny had been meeting in the library. Reuven is surprised to find out that his "enemy" was actually a friend of his father for almost two months before the two boys met on the baseball field. In this complicated friendship the two boys are just getting to know each other while the father has been guiding each of them individually for quite some time. Only through a baseball injury are these people all brought together. Chapter Five 9. I had lived init all my life, but I never really saw it until I went through it that Friday afternoon. (p.94) Reuven now values the things he once took for granted; even an insignificant plant outside his house is exciting to him. It is not until something is taken away from Reuven that he notices the importance of it. 10. I felt I had crossed into another world, that pieces of my old self had been left behind on the black asphalt