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The Chosen, by Chaim Potok
is expected to be a tzaddik as well, while even Reuven uses his father for his sense of history, which he passes down to his son. Perhaps the most striking illustration of the importance of father-son relationships in The Chosen is Danny's response to David Malter's question of whether he will raise his son in silence, for Danny's answer that he will do so unless he finds a better way essentially validates Reb Saunders' methods and emphasizes this role of paternal lineage.
The Religious Implications of Friendship: During the final chapter of The Chosen, Reb Saunders claims that Reuven Malter was sent by God to Danny when he was ready to rebel from his Hasidic background. This echoes an earlier comment by David Malter that the Talmud instructs a person to find a teacher and a friend. Potok thus develops the idea that the friendship between Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter is one with great religious significance, born of destiny and God's will. The meeting between Danny Saunders and Reuven Malter on the baseball field was no mere chance, nor was the seeming coincidence that Reuven is the son of the man who has been instructing Danny. There is instead a divine explanation for this occurrence, as articulated by Reb Saunders.
Illness and Mortality: Serious, debilitating illnesses are prevalent throughout the novel, as characters suffer from trauma including heart attacks, blood disorders and even serious vision problems. This theme serves as a reminder of the morality of the characters, as shown most clearly by David Malter, whose heart attack causes him to confront his own mortality and force Reuven to confront it as well. This also relates to the importance of religion throughout The Chosen, for reminders of the characters' mortality emphasize the relationship between people and God.
Assimilation: The theme of assimilation relates to the conflict between the secular and the religious, but also operates on a different scale, placing the conflict on another level between specifically Jewish traditions and the dominant Christian tradition and values of American society. Although this theme recedes in some degree after the relationship between Danny and Reuven takes precedence, Potok develops this theme through the softball game and the hospital ward. The entire rationale for the softball game is the desire of the yeshivas to demonstrate that their students are as American as students who go to public schools by having their students play the most American sport. In the hospital, this theme continues when Mr. Savo questions Reuven about his religious practices, unaware of rituals that he considers part of his everyday life.