The Chosen

work by Potok

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

The Chosen is a 1967 novel by Chaim Potok, notable for being the first book from a major publisher to depict Orthodox Judaism in the United States. The story centers on the friendship between two Jewish boys from different backgrounds: Reuven Malter, whose father encourages secular studies, and Danny Saunders, the son of a Hasidic rabbi. The novel explores the tension between religious tradition and secular interests, a theme common in Potok's work. It offers a vivid portrayal of the insular Hasidic community and has been interpreted as an allegory for the survival of Judaism.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Chaim Potok
Potok’s first novel was The Chosen (1967; film, 1981). It was the first book from a major publisher to portray Orthodox Judaism in the United States. The author established his reputation with this story of a Hasidic rabbi’s son and the son’s friend, whose humane Orthodox father encourages him…
Read More
Potok’s first novel was The Chosen (1967; film, 1981). It was the first book from a major publisher to portray Orthodox Judaism in the United States. The author established his reputation with this story of a Hasidic rabbi’s son and the son’s friend, whose humane Orthodox father encourages him…
Read More