8 What does Reuven learn from his father about the following aspects of Jewish history: how the Jews came to function as buffers in seventeenth century Poland.
Polen encouraged the Jews, because they are a poor country. Around 1600 the Jews had more influence in Polen, they builded schools and collect taxes. The Polish peasants became angry, but afraid to say anything about it.
A The Cossack uprising in 1648 and its effect on the Jewish community
The peasants and the Cossacks, the Greek orthodox church, hated the Jewish community. Polen was going down, and the Jews had a lot of control and so they were blamed for this. Bogdan Chmielnick started the uprising in 1648 lasting 10 year. Many Jewish communities and Jews were killed. After the Cossack Uprising the Jewish community was almost destroyed in Poland.
B Shabbtai Svi
The Jews were now looking for a Messiah that would came after the hard time. Shabbtai Svia pretend to be the Messiah. He got a lot of followers and people trusted him. Only he was not a Messiah, we was a fraud. This made it only more difficult for the Jews. People were afraid of ghosts and demons, a spiritual disaster.
C Israel and his teachings (p. 108-110)
Israel was born around 1700. He studied the Kabbalah which was forbidden in Poland. Later he started to teach the Torah in simple language to children and adults. Everything has to be done with love for God, when something bad happens, somewhere is something from God. The purpose of men is to make his life holy. Later he became the founder of Hasidism. He was called the Ba’al Shem Tov.
D the Hasidism and their belief in a “superman” (p. 111)
The Tzaddik was the head of the Hasidism after Israel died. The followers believed that the Tzaddik was a superhuman link between themselves and God. This could was sometimes a good thing, but some people made use of it and were a fraud.
9 Why do certain Hasids believe their leaders must take the sufferings of the Jewish people upon themselves? (p.112)
It would be unendurable for the Jewish people if the leader did not somehow ‘absorbs’ the sufferings into themselves.
10 Why does Mr. Malter believe it is natural for Danny to break his father’s rules and read forbidden books? (p.112)
Mr. Malter compares Danny to Salomon. Salomon is a genius. They are both hunger for knowledge, although Salomon was forbidden to read, Danny lives in America, which is a free land. Danny wants to read forbidden books and Mr. Malter is advising him which book would be worthwhile. If Mr.
Malter doesn’t help Danny, he would read for himself and that could be worse.

11 What does Mr. Malter tell Reuven about Danny’s need for a friend? (p.113)
He is terribly torn and a lonely boy at the moment. Every Jew needs a friend and they are predestinated by the accident during the baseball game. Danny doesn’t trust somebody, but he can talk to Reuven without fear.
12 What does the author demonstrate the way in which the Hasidic community reveres
Danny? (9.122)
He demonstrates Danny as holy in his community. A group of men recognized and greet him in
Yiddish, and made a path to walk through for Danny.
13 What are Reb Saunders’ views on:
A the world and what is does to Jews
The world is destroying the Jews and other people. (tempts us, misleads us and contaminates us)
B life on earth
We do as the Master of Universe wishes. People born like dust – life is dust, we don’t have to remain dust.
C the study of the Torah
The people of Israel (men) are commanded to study the Torah.
Explain Reb Saunders’ assertion that ‘we are only half alive in this world’. (p.134-135)
Without the Torah, there is only half a life.
14 How does Reb Saunders determine whether Reuven is fit to be his son’s friend? (p.141-
143)
In the synagogue, Reb Saunders asked him about Gematriya. Reuven is really interested in Gematriya and corrects Reb Saunders for a mistake he made during his teaching. He made it on purpose to test
Reuven whether he listens and understands what he’s telling.
15 How does Mr. Malter justify providing books for Danny which his father and Hasidim forbid him to read?
In this way he has a direction from an adult. In his opinion Danny would read anyway.
16 Under what circumstances do Danny and his father communicate? How is the explanation for this aspect of their relationship given?
They only talk to each other when they are studying and discussing the Talmud. Danny is raised in
‘silence’. His father told him that he had to stop running away for his problems. He had to look in his own soul for an answer instead of asking/talking.

17 How is the study of the Talmud shown to be a central activity in the lives of both Reuven and Danny?
On Sabbath they both discuss the Talmud with their fathers. Sometimes Reuven comes over to Danny to discuss the Talmud with Danny’s father. They are well prepared to have a good discussion about the texts. Although there is a huge different in the way they are raised by their father, they taught the
Talmud from a different perspective.
18 What is the subject of Danny’s ‘forbidden’ interest? What is it he is trying to learn about in this study?
Freud
19 How does the author convey the information that Americans did not know about the
German concentration camps until after Germany had surrendered?
The total numbers of dead was unknown. After the announcement of a number, it increased for a long time. People (read about Mr. Malter) are in chock.
20 What is Reb Saunders’ reaction to this terrible revelation? Compare it to Mr. Malter’s.
Reb Saunders is convinced that ‘world is killing us’, but it is the will of God and we have to accept it.
The Messiah will come to liberate.
Mr. Malter is convinced that ‘we have no time to wait for a Massiah’. Jews have to take the responsibility their selves.
21 How does the author convey Danny’s increasing sense of begin trapped by his father’s way of life?
He trusts and looks up to his father. He finds his father inspiring.