preview

Religious Tolerance In Chaim Potock's The Chosen

Decent Essays

Religious Tolerance in The Chosen Religious tolerance, one of the major topics of the world today, rarely shows itself honestly. Yet, what is religious tolerance and what qualities does it display? Honestly, Religious tolerance means holding true to one’s own beliefs, while tolerating others beliefs. Perfectly demonstrated religious tolerance does not mean agreeing with someone’s views, but instead tolerating them, if it causes no hurt toward others. Acting intolerantly of another ideas does not include speaking about one’s own ideas, but instead of hating and persecuting others because of their ideas. Beautifully is religious tolerance demonstrated by the characters of Chaim Potock’s classic, The Chosen. The Characters who demonstrate religious tolerance include David Malter, Reb Saunders, and Reuven Malter. Firstly, David Malter, the father of Reuven Malter, beautifully demonstrates religious tolerance. David is a rabbi, a teacher, a zealous Zionist. Zionism is the belief that the Jews should rebuild Jerusalem to create a Jewish state. However, many Jews such as Reb Saunders hate Zionism and slander Zionists like David. Courteously, David tolerates their persecution and though “‘he disagreed with Reb Saunders…he would …show more content…

Reb Saunders, a Hasidic Rabbi and a fierce anti-Zionist later repents of his hatred and anger land repents. His wrath was originally directed at David Malter, but later that overflowed to his son Danny’s friendship with David’s son, Reuven. He outlawed them from talking to each other and for two years they remained silent towards each other. However, later Reb repents and says “‘Reuven, I—I ask you to forgive me…my anger…at your father’s Zionism…’” (287). As the example exhibits, Reb apologizes to Reuven and repents of his hate and intolerance. Thus , at the end of the story, Reb becomes religiously tolerant of

Get Access