The Promise by Chaim Potok

I finished the book just before midnight last night. Amanda and the kids were at her mom's for the evening. I am normally not a fast reader, but a "raced" through this book. I loved it. This is the sequel to Potok's "The Chosen", which I wrote about here.

It follows the two main characters Reuven and Danny through their continued education and development. Potok also introduces some great new characters. In the story Reuven meets a new young friend, Michael, who he later finds out is mentally ill. In a twist, Danny Saunders begins to work with Michael in treatment. The story of Michael's illness is very difficult and sad. I found myself once again empathizing and hurting so much for the parents in the novel. The struggle of Michael's parents is also felt by all of the adults in the book. Michael and Reuven had similar experiences as both of their fathers were criticized for their scholarship by more orthodox Jews. The climax was as Michael's mental health began to turn when he was able to tell his parents that he hated them for the criticism that he had to endure from their work. Reuven's recount of this to his father was for me the best part of the novel.

"For a long time my father sat at his desk, staring at me in disbelief. Then he tried to say something but the words would not come out and he cleared his throat and coughed.

'I would not have hated you that way, abba,' I said. 'We would have talked about it.'

'You are sure, Reuven?'

I nodded.

'You would have told me how you felt about me if the things that were most precious to me had ruined your life?'

'Yes.'

'Haven't you hated me during these past months?' he asked softly.

I hesitated. 'I wasn't really--'

'Why didn't you tell me, Reuven?'

I looked at him and din not say anything.

'What a chance we take when we raise children,' my father murmured. 'What a terrible chance.'

As I read this last line, I cried. I wept for the chance that we have taken. I wept with fear for my children. I wept with the tension of the novel. I wept and prayed to the Master of the Universe (a term from Potok's work). I prayed that whatever came into the lives of my children, that God would bring them unto Himself. I know that each of them will experience terrible things in their lives. I pray for them though that through it all that the Master of the Universe will hold them to Himself. "What a terrible chance." It was a good time to be alone.

If you have not caught my love for the work of Chaim Potok yet, please contact your local library and get a hold of his novels. I have read "The Chosen", "In the Beginning" (another beautiful work) and now "The Promise." Amanda is currently reading "I am Asher Lev" and I can't wait to get my hands on that one. I am sure that I will write more when I do.