Reading JournalChapter One1. “Remember why and for whom we play.” (p. 16)This passage shows the rabbi of Reuvens rival team telling his players to focusand 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 theseyoung teenage boys their religion has importance in all aspects of their lifeeven their after school recreational activities.
2. The first pitch was low, and Danny Saunders ignored it. The second onestarted to come in shoulder-high, and before it was two thirds of the way to theplate, I was standing on second base. (p. 30)This seemingly irrelevant scene in the book is actually very important because itshows how Reuven controls his own destiny. Anticipating what is going tohappen based on previous experience is crucial, not just in baseball but also inlife. Reuven was the only one on his team that reacted like this and it showshis leadership abilities in key situations.
Chapter Two3. “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 wasremaining kosher according to his religion. His natural instinct of hunger wasput after the desire to obey his Jewish beliefs. This shows what a key factorReuvens religion is to him in all aspects of life.
4. “Its 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 whats the matter.” (p. 48)This passage explains the close connection between Reuven and his father. Theboy can tell when his father is not being completely honest with him andReuven longs to know what is going to happen to his eye. In his time of painand concern Reuven knows that he can confide in his “Abba” for help andcomforting.
Chapter Three5. Also, yesterday I had hated him; now we were calling each other by our firstnames. (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 Reuvens injury.
6. “What would have happened if you had lost?””I dont like to think about that. You dont 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 agame; it was an expression of Hasidic dominance. Dannys father, the Hasidicrabbi in the area formed the team for the sole purpose of glorifying his religionand failure was not an option for Danny and his team.
Chapter Four7. “I read a lot,” he said. “I read about seven or eight books a week outside of myschool work.” (p. 79)Danny is telling Reuven about himself and his studying habits. Danny is anextremely intelligent person who reads on his own for the sole purpose ofpossessing that extra knowledge. This impresses Reuven who is also on a questfor 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 booksfor Danny to read. My father was the man Danny had been meeting in thelibrary.
Reuven is surprised to find out that his “enemy” was actually a friend of hisfather for almost two months before the two boys met on the baseball field. Inthis complicated friendship the two boys are just getting to know each otherwhile the father has been guiding each of them individually for quite sometime. Only through a baseball injury are these people all brought together.
Chapter Five9. I had lived init all my life, but I never really saw it until I went through it thatFriday afternoon. (p.94)Reuven now values the things he once took for granted; even an insignificantplant outside his house is exciting to him. It is not until something is taken awayfrom 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 leftbehind on the black asphalt floor of the school yard alongside the shattered lensof my glasses. (p. 96)Along with the physical change of the temporary loss of eyesight Reuven has alsogone through a mental transformation while in the hospital. His old passivelifestyle changed once he realized that at any moment it could all be over. Beinginjured was a tremendous growing experience and without being in this accidentReuven would not have matured as much as he did.
Chapter Six11. There was color now in my fathers face and his cough had disappeared. (p. 97)Reuvens injury was a traumatic experience for both father and son. Mr. Malterwas pale and sick during Reuvens struggle in the hospital and this shows howmuch he cared for his son. With Mrs. Malter gone Reuven is the only true friendhe has and both father and son need each other.
12 Reb Saunders son is a terribly torn and lonely boy. There is literally no one inthe World he can talk to. He needs a friend. The accident with the baseball hasbound Him to you.” (p. 106)Mr. Malter makes it clear to Reuven just how important it is to be friends withDanny Saunders. Although very gifted and educated Danny struggles daily withthe loneliness of having no one to confide in. what seemed like a terrible event atthe baseball field was a blessing in disguise that will bring these two boys whoneed each other, together.
Chapter Seven13. Danny was probably going to have as much trouble with his friends over ourrelationship as I would have with mine. (p. 118)Reuven and Danny are from two different social groups with dissimilarqualities that make it difficult for the two boys to be friends. It is a classicproblem in literature; for example: Romeo and Juliet. The main difference inDanny and Reuvens friendship from Romeo and Juliets relationship is that thetwo boys do not try to hide their friendship.
14. He glanced at me, his face a mixture of surprise and relief, and I realizedthat I, too, had passed some kind of test.” (p. 134)Reuven has just been quizzed by Reb Saunders and he answered the questioncorrectly. This is a big step in Reuven and Dannys friendship because it showsMr. Saunders that Reuven is an acceptable friend. Both parents now approve ofthe friendship between their sons even though the fathers do not always agree andthis also shows the maturity and understanding of the men.
Chapter Eight15. I decided after a while to review by heart some of the symbolic logic I had beenstudying. (p.144)This passage shows how the two friends, Danny and Reuven, push each other tofurther their knowledge. When Reuven sees Danny reading a book it makes himwant to do something for himself that will make him smarter. It is an undeclaredcompetition between the boys to see who is more dedicated to their education.
16. Reb Saunders was far happier when he lost to Danny than when he won.
(p. 155/156)In the religious quizzing that took place between Reb Saunders and his son thefather took pride in seeing his son succeed even if it meant that Mr. Saunders wasproved wrong lost. Mr. Saunders taught Danny most of what he knows andseeing this knowledge Transfer from generation to generation makes Reb happy.
He knows that through these friendly games between father and son Danny willlearn what his father knows and eventually take his place.
Chapter Nine17. My fathers eyes were misty when we left the office. (p. 162)Reuven was just told that his eye was fine and that he could do all the thingshe used to do including reading. This was extremely relieving to his father; Mr.
Malter continually worried about Reuven while he was in the hospital and evenwhen he got out because of his eye. Everything was physically back to normalwith Reuven and this brought his father to tears.
18. I bent and blew hard against the web. It swayed, but remained intact. IBlew again, harder now, and the strands seemed to suddenly melt. (p. 165)Reuven was sitting on his porch moments after hearing the bad news of Billysunsuccessful surgery and he felt helpless, just like the horsefly stuck in thespiders web. Reuven wanted to do something good so he destroyed the webthat the fly was stuck in and this allowed it to escape. What Reuven did notrealize was the fact that by releasing the fly and tearing down the web he mighthave killed the spider that needed the fly to survive. It is ironic that Reuvensattempt at a good deed might have been hurtful.
Chapter Ten19. I joined him there every afternoon, and frequently my father came with me.
(p. 166)Danny and Reuvens friendship has grown and they both rely on each other forhelp and companionship. Now that it is summer they meet every day in thelibrary to do their reading together. Reuvens father also acts as a mentor toDanny who has no father figure who he can turn to for help with his studying.
20. Miserable, he said. Had I ever sat in a bus with my father for hours and notexchanged a single word of conversation, except for a short discussion abouta passage of Talmud? No.
Danny has no one he can talk to for advice and his father is more of a schoolteacher than a loving mentor that the fifteen year old boy needs. Mr.
Saunders method of teaching Danny what he needs to know later in lifeis making him a smart person but Danny does not want to inherit his fathersHasidic leadership because he does not want to be like his father. With no oneto learn from Danny turns to books by Freud and this may influence his wayof thinking and further upset his father.
Chapter Eleven21. I saw only emptiness and fear and a kind of sudden, total end to the things thatI had never experienced before. (p. 179)Theodore Roosevelt, president of the United States, has just died and it has filledReuven with immense grief. He does not fully understand why he is sad but only knows that a great man has died. Along with Judaism Reuvens home country is very important to him and Roosevelts death is very upsetting to Reuven. The president was probably a role model to Reuven especially now that he is becoming interested in politics and other leadership roles.
22. “How the world drinks our blood,” Reb Saunders said. “How the world makesmakes us suffer. It is the will of God. We must accept the will of God.” (p. 181)Reb Saunders is personally hurt by the horrible massacre of six million Jews in the Nazis concentration camps. These people were Rebs followers, and some even his friends. The genocide of this many people has affected the entire world and the remaining Jews including Reuven and Dannys father are very disturbed by these events.
Chapter Twelve23. “I was really concerned about his health because all along Ive wanted him to be able to take my fathers place.” (p.190)Through reading Freud Danny has figured out that he does not want to take his fathers place as a tzaddik. Danny feels that deep in his subconscious he wants his little brother to take his place and that is why he has always been concerned with his health; not because he cares for him, but for selfish reasons. Danny has found his way out of being a rabbi and this gives him hope for his future.
24. “Ill want you around on that day, friend. Ill need you around on that day.”(p. 191)Danny knows that he does not want to take his fathers place and become a rabbi but the hardest part will be telling his father this. Danny seeks comfort in Reuven and asks for his help in confronting his father; both boys are greatly intimidated by the powerful Reb Saunders. During a time when both boys fathers are not there to help them they confide in each other for strength.
Chapter Thirteen25. ” I learned a long time ago, Reuven, that a blink of an eye in itself is nothing. But the eye that blinks, that is something. A span of life is nothing. But the man that lives that span, he is something.” (p. 204)Mr. Malter is teaching Reuven an important lesson about controlling his own destiny. Not only should Reuven not stand idle and do something with the gift of life that was given to him but he should also try to impress this idea on others. This is the key factor in Mr. Malters way of thinking and the main reason why he puts himself through the torture of teaching and helping others before he even takes care of himself.
26. Danny was not to see me, talk to me, listen to me, be found within four feet ofme. My father and I had been excommunicated from the Saunders family.
(p. 217)Reuven and Dannys friendship seems to have come to an end. Reb Saunders will not allow his son to be with Reuven because of their Zionists views. Mr. Saunders thinks that Reuven will influence Danny in a negative way and as punishment for remaining friends Danny has been threatened with being sent to an out of town yeshiva where he will only be able to study to be a rabbi. What the two boys struggled through, not caring what others thought of them, seems impossible now with Mr. Saunders unyielding views toward the Zionist beliefs of the Malter family.
Chapter Fourteen27. And now it was also I and not only Reb Saunders who was able to listen toDannys voice only through a Talmudic disputation. (p. 225)Now that Reuven is not allowed to talk with Danny it is only during theTalmudic sessions in class that Reuven gets to hear his voice. Reuvenpoints out that this is the same relationship between Mr. Saunders and hisson and that they only talk to each other while discussing Talmud. A sadfact because now Danny has no one to talk to and he goes through his daysin silence.
28. I worked carefully and methodically, using everything my father taught meAnd a lot of things I was now able to teach myself. (p. 229)Dannys father has done an exceptional job in raising his son and this is mostevident when the father cannot be there. The main job of a parent is to workthemselves out of a job and now that Mr. Malter has had a heart attack Reuvenmust take care and teach himself and he does a wonderful job of it, impressinghis teacher and classmates. Reuven really misses his father but it is a testamentto the hard work of Mr. Malter that his son can now succeed on his own.
Chapter Fifteen29. He had worked so hard for a Jewish state, and that very work now kept him fromseeing it. (p. 240)Ever since news came of the slaughter of six million Jews during WWII it has been Mr. Malters personal mission to make it possible for his people to have a country of their own, a Jewish state. He rarely slept and this greatly worsened his health and probably was the reason for his second heart attack. Now with the struggle of recuperating from the heart attack he is not strong enough to make a trip to Palestine and see the place for which he worked so hard to make a reality.
30. Reb Saunders anti-Zionist league died that day as far as the students in HirschCollage were concerned. It remained alive outside of school, but I never againsaw an anti-Zionist leaflet inside the school building. (p. 241)With the death of a graduate from Hirsch Collage as a result of the fighting in Palestine the students and faculty of that school now have a close connection with the fighting for a Jewish homeland. Anti-Zionists who once had a stronghold on some students are now nowhere to be seen in the school for fear of retaliation from people who knew the student well. It took the death of another Jew to give the Zionists and the anti-Zionists of the school a reason to stop the conflicts between people of the same religion.
Chapter Sixteen31. I felt a little shiver hearing his voice…
“The ban has been lifted.” He said simply. (p. 243)Mr. Saunders will now allow his son to see Reuven. The two friendsnever wanted to be apart and it was a trying time for their friendship. Thiswas the first time the two had spoken to each other in months and the meetingwas filled with relief and joy.
32. He had expected it, he said. The Jewish state was not an issue anymore but afact. How long would Reb Saunders have continued his band over a dead issue? (p. 244)Mr. Malter is talking to Reuven about the two boys now being allowed to be friends again. He is happy but not surprised because the differences in religious beliefs that first separated the families is a non-existent conflict anymore. Mr. Malters desire to have a Jewish state has now become a reality and there is nothing Reb Saunders can do about it so he maturely admits his “defeat” and allows the two boys to be friends again.
Chapter Seventeen33. Danny called me during supper as soon as the ambulance pulled away from infront of his house, and I could tell from his voice that he was in panic. (p. 251)Levi Saunders, Dannys little brother, is very ill and must be rushed to the hospital. This is extremely important to Danny because he is counting on his brother to take over the role of heir to the tzaddik throne once Danny tells his father that he is not going to be a rabbi. To Danny this is much more important than even losing a family member and Reuven understands this when Danny calls.
34. “You will go on Passover. He has a reason if he asked you to come especiallyon Passover. And listen next time when someone speaks to you, Reuven.”(p. 258)Mr. Malter is scolding Reuven for not paying attention to Mr. Saunders indirect invitation to talk about Danny. Reuven is still angry with Reb Saunders and he did not want to spend his Shabbat talking to him about Talmud but he failed to realize that Mr. Saunders wanted to talk to Reuven about his son. What Mr. Malter is actually telling Reuven is that when someone says something he should not always take it as literally as it sounds. He also wants Reuven to forget about the past with Mr. Saunders and give him another chance.
Chapter Eighteen35. “My father himself never talked to me, except when we studied together. Hetaught me with silence.” (p. 265)Danny Saunders grandfather also taught Reb Saunders with silence. This tradition was passed down from generation to generation but Danny rebels against it and decides that this type of future is not for him. In a very emotional discussion father and son discuss Dannys future as a psychologist and not a tzaddik.
36. “But he learned to find the answers for himself. He suffered and learned tolisten to the suffering of others. In the silence between us he began to hearthe world crying.” (p. 267)Reb Saunders finally tells Danny the reason why they do not talk toeach other; he wanted Danny to hear the suffering of the world throughthe silence between father and son. This is the Saunders family way of teaching a boy to grow up and become a tzaddik, silence. It is ironic how Reb Saunders stressed the importance of silence for Dannys personal growth toward becoming a leader but it is partly because of the silence between him and his father that he does not want to become a tzaddik at all.
