Judaism (The Chosen)

Summary of the movie, The Chosen

The movie basically talks about two Jewish boys who lived blocks away from each other in Boston. The two Jewish boys are Reuven and Danny. Reuven is raised from a family which believes in Judaism, while Reuven is an Orthodox, whereby his father Reb Saunders, is strongly Hasidic (Jeremy, 1981). The two become friends after Danny’s Hasidic team visits Reuven’s school for a football match, where they disagree due to their difference in religious beliefs, a thing which leads to a fight. Danny hits Reuven’s glasses with a stone almost making Reuven blind. Danny and Reuven later become close friends after Danny visits Reuven’s at the hospital and asks for forgiveness. The relationship of the two boys is however threatened, since they beliefs are very different. Reb Saunders, Danny’s father, is Hasidic, while David Malter, Reuven’s father believes in Judaism, and the two religions oppose each other.

Summary of the American Jewish Experience

            This article basically focuses on the life of Jews in America as immigrants, and the effects of different denominations against themselves. Jews moved into America in different periods, the first group moved in between the years of 1900-1924, while the second moved into the use in the year 1930 (Jonathan & Jonathan, 2000). The two Jewish groups were consequently separated from each other, since each group had its denomination. After the Second World War, the Jews were banned from migrating into the US, a move which consequently led to the segregation of the Jews in America. The two Jewish groups united in order to defend themselves against segregation. However their different denominations proved to be a problem, some were orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews. This denominations further divided them instead of uniting them.

            The film and the article relate in the sense that both of them are talking about the effects of denominations on the world. They consequently act as a dividing factor rather than a unifying factor. All of these denominations fall under the Christian religion which seeks to unite the whole world. This consequently explains how the religion may affect the lives of the people of America.

Reference

            Jonathan D. S. & Jonathan G. (2000). The American Jewish Experience in the Twentieth Century: Antisemitism and Assimilation: National Humanities Center.

Jeremy K. (1981). The Chosen. Retrieved from: http://library.lib.asu.edu/search/?searchtype=p&SORT=D&searcharg=broyles