How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
I almost cried out, but I held back and waited for him to come up to my bed. (2.231)
No doubt about it. Reuven loves and admires his father unambiguously, and vice-versa. Even their arguments seem deeply loving. They have a far less fraught relationship than Danny and the Reb, but no less complex. For one thing, Reuven’s mother died soon after he was born, and David and Reuven don’t seem to have any other relatives around. All they have is each other – which might add to the extreme care they exercise with each other.
Quote #2
"[W]hen a person comes to talk to you, you should be patient and listen. Especially if he has hurt you in any way." (3.141)
This passage certainly speaks to David’s love for his son, but also expresses a loving attitude toward the world. Wouldn’t the world be a more loving place if we were all able to stop jumping to conclusions and try to learn the alternative perspective before we make judgments and take drastic actions?
Quote #3
"He’s really a great man, my father. He saved his community. He brought them all over to America after the First World War." (7.50)
If you are like us, you got some shivers when you read these lines. Danny tries to explain to Reuven just what kind of a man his father really is. When Reuven is so harsh on the Reb, we want to remind him of this passage.